PM Modi held a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security on the uproar in Bangladesh
#News Bureau August 5,2024
Amid the historic turmoil in Bangladesh, political activities have intensified in India as well. Sheikh Hasina reached India after leaving Bangladesh and resigning from the post of PM. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security at his official residence on Monday evening. From Defense Minister Rajnath Singh to Foreign Minister, Finance Minister and senior officials participated in the meeting. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar informed Prime Minister Modi about the situation in Bangladesh.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has fled the country amid protests that started in Bangladesh first over reservation in jobs and then a massive movement demanding the resignation of Sheikh Hasina. Bangladesh Army Chief General Wakar-uz-Zaman said in a broadcast to the nation on state television that Hasina has resigned and the army will form a caretaker government.
After leaving Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina’s plane landed at an airbase near Delhi on Monday evening. National Security Advisor Ajit Doval met her. Now there are reports that she is expected to go to London, where she may seek political asylum.
National Security Advisor Ajit Doval met Hasina at Hindon Airbase itself. It is reported that she discussed the crisis in Bangladesh and her future steps with Doval. ANI has reported quoting sources that the Indian Air Force and other security agencies are providing her security. She has been taken to a safe place. Hasina discussed the current situation in Bangladesh and future strategy with Doval.
Meanwhile, a high-level meeting was held by the PM. The Cabinet Committee on Security met at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg. In the meeting, Prime Minister Modi was briefed about the situation in Bangladesh.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also briefed Prime Minister Modi about the situation in Bangladesh. Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has also spoken to Jaishankar.
The fresh violence broke out after Awami League, Chhatra League and Jubo League activists clashed with government supporters demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and sitting for a non-cooperation movement. The protesters were demanding Hasina’s resignation. The earlier protests in July were started with students demanding an end to the quota system for government jobs. More than 200 people were killed in the violence then.
The real reason for the protests
Protests began across Bangladesh less than a month ago, demanding an end to the 30 percent reservation in government jobs for families of veterans who fought in the country’s war against Pakistan in 1971. The Supreme Court then ruled that the veterans’ quota should be reduced to 5 percent, with 93 percent of jobs allocated on the basis of merit. The remaining 2 percent should be set aside for ethnic minorities and transgender and disabled people.
Although the government accepted the Supreme Court’s decision, protesters continued to demand accountability for the violence. And now things have reached this point.
Sheikh Hasina was accused of jailing opposition leaders, carrying out extrajudicial killings, rigging elections, suppressing media freedom, violating human rights, making activists ‘disappear’ and carrying out dictatorship in the name of democracy.
76-year-old Sheikh Hasina was elected to a fourth consecutive term in January after all major opposition parties boycotted the elections. Thousands of opposition members were jailed ahead of the elections. There have been reports of hundreds of people being jailed recently as well.
