Sheikh Hasina resigns: Conspiracy behind Bangladesh turmoil?

Even as protests have spiralled out of control across Bangladesh, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday resigned and left the country. This paved the way for an interim government to take over. Experts keeping an eye on Bangladesh have expressed concern on the evolving situation. 

Former Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla hinted at an international conspiracy behind the developments in Bangladesh.

You can't rule out the involvement of foreign powers who are inimical to Bangladesh's interest and to our security also. You cannot rule out the fact that certain interests have been fishing in troubled waters. But I think the situation itself was a result of several underlying factors, inherent within Bangladesh," he told news agency ANI.

Geopolitics and international relations expert Zorawar Daulet Singh termed the development in Dhaka as a 'massive geopolitical setback for India'. 

Taking to social media platform X, Singh said: 'A moderate progressive Bangladesh was made possible through enormous Indian sacrifices in 1971. This has been snatched away by extremists who have toppled the democratically elected government, while India witnessed these events on its periphery helplessly.'

Meanwhile, former Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police SP Vaid urged the Indian government to ensure the safety of the minority Hindu community in Bangladesh.

He posted on X, "Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigns from Dhaka, flees the country to undisclosed location in military helicopter. Situation grim. Government of India should take up with Army Chief of Bangladesh for security of 13 million Hindus who have become the target of the rioters."

Foreign Affairs expert Sushant Sareen noted that arrogance and isolation of power prevents leaders from having an ear to the ground, and losing the feel of the ground, unable to read the pulse of people.

He said on X, "I suppose they are all going to get their share of quotas and govt jobs….but more seriously, the quotas was a trigger to something that was bubbling on the ground, quite like the self immolation of Bouazizi triggered the Arab Spring. The arrogance and isolation of power prevents leaders from having an ear to the ground, and losing the feel of the ground, unable to read the pulse of people. And then when the ground shakes everyone wakes up. Needless to say everyone is wiser after shit hits the fan."