Bangladesh: Opposition fully supports the Centre, Rahul asks, what did the government talk about with Dhaka
#News Bureau, August6,2024
The central government called an all-party meeting on Tuesday on the Bangladesh crisis, in which the opposition made it clear that it would support the policies of the Indian government. In the meeting, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that India has put its army on alert. We have adopted a wait and watch strategy on Bangladesh. Jaishankar talked about the possible impact of this development on India and told what strategy would be adopted. The Indian government has also spoken to the Bangladesh Army Chief and appealed for immediate restoration of peace.
In this meeting, opposition leader Rahul Gandhi asked whether the government has any information about the role of any external forces in the developments in Bangladesh, to which Jaishankar said that the government only has information about the changed DP of a Pakistani diplomat which shows his support to the rebels.
Sources said Jaishankar also said that there is a possibility of an interim government being formed in Bangladesh. But the student leaders there have still not been able to decide on many issues. They want economist Professor Muhammad Yunus to take power. But Yunus said that he could become an advisor to the interim government.
When Rahul Gandhi asked if the Indian government had any information about Sheikh Hasina’s plans, Jaishankar told the opposition leaders that India has talked to her about its future course of action, but it cannot be disclosed at the moment.
Opposition leaders assured that they will stand with the central government. The government has full freedom to take steps in this regard. Apart from Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, senior Congress leader KC Venugopal, DMK’s TR Balu, JDU’s Lallan Singh, Samajwadi Party’s Ram Gopal Yadav, Trinamool Congress’s Sudip Bandyopadhyay and Derek O’Brien, Rashtriya Janata Dal’s Misa Bharti, Shiv Sena (UBT)’s Arvind Sawant, Biju Janata Dal’s Sasmit Patra, NCP (SP)’s Supriya Sule and Telugu Desam Party’s Ram Mohan Naidu etc. participated in the meeting.
Contact with Bangladesh Army: Foreign Minister Jaishankar also informed in the all-party meeting that India has contacted the Chief of the Bangladesh Army. India asked Bangladesh Army Chief General Wekar-us-Zaman to restore peace, law and order and normalcy in Bangladesh at the earliest.
Opposition leaders assured that they will stand with the central government. The government has full freedom to take steps in this regard. Apart from Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, senior Congress leader KC Venugopal, DMK’s TR Balu, JDU’s Lallan Singh, Samajwadi Party’s Ram Gopal Yadav, Trinamool Congress’s Sudip Bandyopadhyay and Derek O’Brien, Rashtriya Janata Dal’s Misa Bharti, Shiv Sena (UBT)’s Arvind Sawant, Biju Janata Dal’s Sasmit Patra, NCP (SP)’s Supriya Sule and Telugu Desam Party’s Ram Mohan Naidu etc. participated in the meeting.
Contact with Bangladesh Army: Foreign Minister Jaishankar also informed in the all-party meeting that India has contacted the Chief of the Bangladesh Army. India asked Bangladesh Army Chief General Wekar-us-Zaman to restore peace, law and order and normalcy in Bangladesh at the earliest.
Sources said that after the ouster of Sheikh Hasina from power, the central government has told the army that India is ready to provide all possible help to restore normalcy. It is understood that the ousted Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina is being considered a guest in India and it is she who has to decide about her future stay. It is being said that Sheikh Hasina can go to London, as her sister Rehana has British citizenship.
Sheikh Hasina’s exit has increased India’s problems. Because a radical regime in Bangladesh will pose a new threat. An atmosphere of instability continues to prevail around India. Anti-Sheikh Hasina elements in Western countries will start their anti-India game. All the neighbouring countries of India, except Bhutan, are facing political turmoil at the moment and the situation is expected to worsen in the future. The biggest test for India is to protect itself from challenges across the border.