EAM S Jaishankar briefs all-party meeting on Bangladesh situation

New Delhi: Amid the Bangladesh unrest, the central government has convened an all-party meeting on Tuesday.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar told an all-party meeting that India has assured help to former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who arrived here on Monday evening, and given her time to decide the future course of action, as per sources.

Leaders of Opposition in both the Houses, Mallikarjun Kharge (Rajya Sabha) and Rahul Gandhi (Lok Sabha) attended the all-party meeting. DMK leader T R Baalu, NCP leader Supriya Sule among others who attended the meeting.

Briefing political party leaders in Parliament House, Jaishankar said India was in touch with the Bangladesh Army to ensure the safety of over 10,000 Indian students in that country, the sources said.  He also said that Sheikh Hasina is in India and the Indian government wants to give her time to let the Indian government know what her future course of action would be.

Noting that it has been not even 24 hours since Hasina arrived in India, he said she is in a state of shock and the government is giving her time to recover before it speaks to her over various issues, including her future plans, the sources said.

"Briefed an All-Party meeting in Parliament today about the ongoing developments in Bangladesh. Appreciate the unanimous support and understanding that was extended," Jaishankar posted on X after the meeting.

During the meeting, Jaishankar told the leaders that the central government was in touch with the Bangladesh Army as well. He said that it is a prevailing situation and the government will take appropriate action at the right time, according to sources. According to sources, the leaders in the party meeting were informed that there are 20000 Indian nationals in the country.

During the all-party meeting, the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, asked about India's long-term and short-term strategy. The government stated that this was a progressive situation and they would continue to analyse it.

Rahul Gandhi also questioned the government on the possible involvement of a foreign hand. The central government said that all possible angles were being looked into. After being briefed by the government, Rahul Gandhi expressed his support for the measures taken in the national interest.

Congress leader Karti Chidambaram said the government had briefed an all-party meeting on the situation in Bangladesh.

“Congress party is fully with the government as far as national security and national interest are concerned," Chidamabaram said. However, he was not present at the meeting.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Tuesday informed the lower house of Parliament that External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will make a statement on the situation in Bangladesh.

Birla informed the House after Question Hour concluded that Jaishankar will make a suo moto statement at 3.30 pm in Lok Sabha. Jaishankar will also make a statement regarding the situation in Bangladesh at 2:30 pm in Rajya Sabha.

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned from her post on Monday in the wake of mounting protests and landed at the Hindon Air Base near New Delhi in a C-130 Hercules military transport aircraft.

After reports surfaced that Sheikh Hasina had departed from Bangladesh, people took to the streets to celebrate, Dhaka Tribune reported.

At least 135 people were killed in Bangladesh on Monday during unrest with police firings, mob beatings, and arson across the country, according to Dhaka Tribune.

After Hasina left the country, many people entered the Ganabhaban, the residence of the Prime Minister. Bangladeshi media, Prothom Alo, reported that people were seen decamping with various items from public buildings. A crowd was also noticed inside the Parliament building and people were seen taking things from inside the Parliament building as well.

The Bangladesh protests majorly by students demanded an end to a quota system for government jobs and had grown into an uprising against Hasina and her ruling Awami League party. At least 95 people, including at least 14 police officers, died and hundreds of people were injured in clashes in Dhaka on Sunday, local media outlet Prothom Alo reported.

(Agency inputs)