Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's troops fled the country. (AFP)
The Indian High Commission in Dhaka is on high alert and awaits further instructions from the Government of India on next steps to ensure security and stability of the area as well as officials and other Indian nationals.
According to Indian security sources, intense discussions have been taking place over the past few days between Bangladesh and India, as well as multiple third countries, to ensure safe haven. They say the urgency for the talks stems from Bangladesh's recent political unrest over the quota crisis and student protests.
The crisis reached its peak last week, when more than 100 people died in a single day. The Bangladesh Army and the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), the country's anti-crime and counter-terrorism force, are allied with Hasina's government, but protests spread rapidly over the last week, said a senior official from an Indian agency involved in coordinating it in Dhaka. People at work told News 18.
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After Sheikh Hasina resigned and decided to fly out of the country, Army Chief General Waq Uz Zaman told a press conference that the army took over and formed an interim government. General Zaman is the husband of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's cousin.
Indian military officers monitor the situation on the ground
Sheikh Hasina, who has been in power in Bangladesh for nearly two decades, faced considerable danger during her tenure and survived 17 to 19 assassination attempts, according to sources within the central agency. These agencies have been closely coordinating with their Bangladeshi counterparts to respond to the current crisis.
Indian officials play a vital role in this coordination effort, and several officials from Indian agencies remain on the ground in Bangladesh, providing services in various cities from Dhaka to Chittagong that are strategic for the country Important land.
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Meanwhile, the Indian High Commission in Dhaka is on high alert and awaits further instructions from the Government of India on next steps to ensure the safety and stability of the area as well as officials and other Indian nationals. “The international community is paying close attention to the development of the situation and hopes to reach a peaceful solution through multinational diplomatic efforts,” said another senior official of a central agency.
Get the latest updates on the unrest in Bangladesh and Sheikh Hasina in our live blog.
