After the uproar in Bangladesh, former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina took refuge in India. Now after the change of power there, many opposition parties have demanded the return of Sheikh Hasina from the interim government led by Nobel Prize winner Mohammad Yunus. When Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal was asked on this issue whether the interim government of Bangladesh can demand the return of Hasina, he called it a hypothetical matter. While admitting that development work has come to a halt due to the disturbances going on in the neighboring country.
Sheikh Hasina took refuge in India on August 5 after student protests in Bangladesh. She is currently in a safe place, but Indian officials have not given any information about her whereabouts. Jaiswal said that many projects going on between India and Bangladesh have been affected due to the unrest in Bangladesh. He said, “Work on some projects has stopped due to the law and order situation. As soon as the situation becomes normal, we will try to take the projects forward by talking to the interim government.”
Security issues became a challenge for the country during the turmoil that followed the ouster of Sheikh Hasina from power. During this time, the Indian Cultural Center in Dhaka was attacked and vandalized. Despite the best efforts of the Bangladeshi authorities, India decided to evacuate all non-essential staff and their families from its High Commission.
In a recent meeting between the Indian envoy and Yunus in Dhaka, the Indian side reiterated that India wants to work with Bangladesh for prosperity, security and development of the people of both countries. The envoy also discussed the safety of Hindus and other minorities with Yunus. Jaiswal said that at present limited Indian visa services are available in Bangladesh, and visas are being given only for emergency or medical needs. He said, “Full visa services will be resumed only when the situation normalises and law and order is restored.”
