Dhaka/ New Delhi: Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, facing escalating unrest and protests, has resigned from her position and fled the country. She arrived at the Hindon Indian Air Force base in Ghaziabad, India, late Monday evening, accompanied by her sister Sheikh Rehana. This dramatic departure came amid intense demonstrations in Dhaka, where protestors breached her official residence, leading to significant damage. The demonstrators also set fire to offices of the Awami League, Hasina’s political party, and vandalized the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum. The turmoil included defacing a statue of Mujibur Rahman, Hasina’s father and a prominent figure in Bangladesh’s history.
In response to the escalating violence, the military has taken control of the country, and a nationwide curfew has been imposed to restore order. The situation has become so severe that the military announced an indefinite extension of the curfew. This unrest has severely impacted normal life and led to the suspension of trade and travel between Bangladesh and India. Air India and IndiGo have canceled scheduled flights to Dhaka, while bus and train services connecting West Bengal with Bangladesh have also been disrupted.
In a noteworthy development, Bangladesh President Mohammed Shahabuddin has ordered the release of Khaleda Zia, the opposition leader and former Prime Minister, from imprisonment. This decision reflects the shifting political dynamics following Hasina’s ousting. The move aims to address the opposition’s grievances and stabilize the situation.
The crisis has prompted a high alert along the 4,096-kilometer India-Bangladesh border. The Border Security Force (BSF) has been mobilized, with heightened surveillance and security measures in place to prevent any potential spillover of violence. The BSF Director General (Acting), Daljit Singh Chawdhary, and other senior commanders have toured border areas such as North 24 Parganas district and the Sundarbans to review security arrangements.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has appealed to the state’s residents to maintain peace and avoid provocation in light of the situation. The police and BSF are closely monitoring the border to ensure that no tensions escalate further. Banerjee has refrained from commenting on the internal developments in Bangladesh, stating that it is a matter for the Indian Ministry of External Affairs to handle.
Overall, the situation in Bangladesh remains highly fluid, with ongoing instability affecting both the internal political landscape and regional relations. The disruption to travel and trade, coupled with the heightened security measures, underscores the gravity of the crisis and its wide-reaching impacts.
