New Delhi: Bangladesh leader Sheikh Hasina met National Security Advisor Ajit Doval on Monday evening after landing at the Hindon Air Force base in Uttar Pradesh’s Ghaziabad, around 30 km from Delhi. Hours earlier, the 76-year-old five-time Prime Minister had been forced to resign from her position after violent protests over a quota for government jobs left more than 300 people dead.
Meeting with Indian Officials
Sheikh Hasina’s visit to India comes amid a tense situation in Bangladesh. Sources informed NDTV that she is expected to leave for London later, where she may seek political asylum. Her plane, a Bangladesh Air Force C-130 military transport, is currently parked near the Indian Air Force’s C-17 and C-130J Super Hercules aircraft hangars.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been briefed on the situation in Bangladesh by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. There is no confirmation yet if Mr. Modi will meet Mrs. Hasina. Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, who is the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, has also spoken to Mr. Jaishankar. The two had a brief conversation on the sidelines of the Parliament, according to his party.
Border and Transportation Disruptions
India’s Border Security Force (BSF) is on high alert across the country’s 4,096 km border with Bangladesh. Field commanders have been ordered to take “on-ground” positions and be prepared for any eventuality. In response to the situation, Indian Railways has halted all trains to Bangladesh, and Air India has canceled its two daily flights to Dhaka.
IndiGo has suspended all flights for the next 30 hours. “In view of the situation in Dhaka, all flights scheduled for tomorrow have been canceled. We understand this may cause significant inconvenience and disruption to your travel plans, and we sincerely regret this development,” the airline stated. Vistara, which operates flights from Mumbai, is monitoring the situation but has not announced any cancellations yet.
Local media reported that Dhaka’s Shahjalal International Airport had closed its operations for six hours.
Military Takeover in Bangladesh
Following the violent protests, the Bangladesh Army, led by General Waker-Uz-Zaman, gave Sheikh Hasina 45 minutes to resign after her government failed to control the violence. In a televised address, General Waker-Uz-Zaman announced that the military would form an “interim government” and urged protesters to stand down.
The developments in Bangladesh have caused significant concern both within the country and internationally, with implications for regional stability and security.
