Bangladesh leader Sheikh Hasina met India's National Security Advisor Ajit Doval on Monday evening after arriving at the Hindon Air Force base in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, approximately 30 kilometers from Delhi. This meeting comes in the wake of her forced resignation following violent protests in Bangladesh that resulted in over 300 deaths.
Earlier in the day, the 76-year-old five-time Prime Minister resigned amidst widespread unrest over a controversial quota system for government jobs. Protesters have been demanding her resignation, leading to intense clashes and significant loss of life.
Sources informed that Sheikh Hasina is expected to travel to London later, where she may seek political asylum. Her plane, a Bangladesh Air Force C-130 military transport, will be parked near Indian Air Force hangars.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been briefed on the unfolding situation by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, although it remains unclear if Modi will meet Hasina. Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, has also discussed the situation with Jaishankar.
India has heightened security measures in response to the crisis. The Border Security Force (BSF) is on high alert across the 4,096 km India-Bangladesh border. Field commanders have been instructed to take "on-ground" positions and prepare for any developments. In addition, Indian Railways has halted all trains to Bangladesh, and Air India has canceled its two daily flights to Dhaka. IndiGo has also suspended all flights for the next 30 hours, citing the situation in Dhaka.
Dhaka's Shahjalal International Airport temporarily ceased operations for six hours amid the escalating unrest. The Bangladesh Army, which gave Hasina a 45-minute ultimatum to resign, has now taken control of the government. In a televised address, Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman announced the formation of an interim government and urged protesters to cease their activities. "There is a crisis. I have met Opposition leaders, and we have decided to form an interim government to run this country. I take all responsibility and promise to protect your life and property. Your demands will be fulfilled. Please stop the violence," he said.
Earlier, protesters stormed Gonobhaban, the Dhaka residence of the Prime Minister. Local media estimated as many as 400,000 protesters on the streets, though this figure could not be verified. Soldiers and police, equipped with armored vehicles and barbed wire, barricaded routes to Hasina's office, but vast crowds tore down barriers and flooded the streets. Hasina had already fled by this time.
The protests began late last month in opposition to a quota system that reserved up to 30 percent of government jobs for families of veterans from Bangladesh's 1971 war against Pakistan. Initially peaceful, the protests turned violent after clashes between students, police, and pro-government activists. Despite a brief lull following a Supreme Court decision to reduce the reservations to 5 percent, unrest reignited as student leaders claimed the government ignored some of their demands, leading to renewed calls for Hasina's resignation.
On Sunday alone, over 100 people were killed, and more than 1,000 were injured in clashes between police and protesters. The total number of deaths has since risen to over 300. The violent demonstrations have included shocking scenes of vehicles and buildings on fire, with mobs rampaging through the streets.
The protests, having initially sought to abolish the quota system, have now escalated into a broader movement seeking to oust Sheikh Hasina, who has vowed to take action against those she accuses of spreading anarchy. This political and social upheaval has significantly disrupted Bangladesh, with the country taking a $10 billion economic hit due to curfews and internet blackouts. The government has shut down offices, including banks, for three days and switched off mobile internet services to manage the crisis.
The international community is watching closely as Bangladesh navigates through this period of intense unrest and political change. The immediate focus is on restoring stability and addressing the underlying issues that have driven the protests. The actions of the interim government in the coming days will be crucial in determining the future of Bangladesh's political landscape.