Muhammad Yunus is set to be sworn in as the leader of Bangladesh’s interim government on Thursday, following Sheikh Hasina’s abrupt exit amid violent protests over government job quotas. Yunus, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate who was in Paris for the Olympics when he was appointed interim leader, has called for calm in the strife-torn country. “Violence is our enemy. Please don’t create more enemies. Be calm and get ready to build the country,” he urged.
Indian border security forces are on high alert due to the unrest in neighboring Bangladesh. The Border Security Force (BSF) reported on Wednesday that it had successfully thwarted a “significant” attempt by a large group of Bangladeshis to infiltrate West Bengal’s International Border (IB).
READ MORE: Bangladesh’s Political Upheaval and Its Implications for India’s Trade, Security, and Diplomacy
Here are the main aspects of the Bangladesh crisis:
- The BSF intercepted 120-140 Bangladeshi citizens trying to cross into India from various points in the eastern state. “The individuals gathered were primarily motivated by fears of local unrest. The BSF, in coordination with the BGB and Bangladeshi civil authorities, has reassured these individuals of their safety and encouraged them to return to their homes,” a spokesperson from the BSF headquarters in Kadamtala, Darjeeling, said. In one area, 35 Bangladeshi civilians were sent back by the BSF and Border Guard Bangladesh with the help of local authorities. In another sector, a group of Bangladeshi villagers caused a brief commotion at the IB but were quickly dealt with and sent back by BSF personnel.
- Bangladesh’s military chief, General Waker-Uz-Zaman, announced in a televised address that Yunus would be sworn in on Thursday night. “We are making every effort to hold the oath-taking ceremony tomorrow (Thursday). There was a proposal to hold it in the afternoon. However, that would result in a very tight schedule because Dr. Yunus is expected to arrive in the country around 2:10 pm. It would be difficult to arrange the ceremony after that. Therefore, we may hold it around 8 pm. The arrangement will accommodate a total of 400 people,” he said on Wednesday.
- Former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia also called for calm on Wednesday. “No destruction, no anger, and no revenge, we need love and peace to rebuild our country,” she advised members of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party.
- Before Sheikh Hasina’s resignation, at least 109 people, including 14 police officers, were killed over two days. Homes of former ministers and MPs from Hasina’s party were looted, burned, or vandalized. Her official residence in the capital was also attacked.
- Following the violence that forced Sheikh Hasina to step down and flee to India, Dhaka was relatively calm on Wednesday. Student activists cleaned the streets and managed traffic in parts of the city after police went on strike earlier in the week due to violent attacks on police stations. Authorities have instructed officials to return to duty by Thursday evening.
- US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller stated that the US expects the interim government to uphold democratic principles. “… I have already spoken to the interim government in Bangladesh and outlined the steps we want them to take moving forward… To ensure stability, build institutions, and arrange a free, fair, and inclusive election… We want to see the interim government make decisions that respect democratic principles,” he said.
- The future plans of Sheikh Hasina remain uncertain. Reports suggest she considered traveling to London after a brief stay in India, but her stay in India has been extended due to “uncertainties.” External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar informed the all-party meeting on Tuesday that Hasina was in shock and needed time to recover before discussing her plans.
- Sajeeb Wazed Joy, Sheikh Hasina’s son, mentioned that his mother had not decided on seeking asylum in the UK or the US. He noted, “I was worried not because she was leaving Bangladesh, but because she didn’t want to leave Bangladesh. We had to convince her. I said this is not a political movement anymore, this is a mob … they are going to kill you.”
- Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma expressed concern about the situation in Bangladesh, stating on Wednesday, “The incident in Bangladesh is a matter of concern for us for two reasons. Firstly, if this turmoil continues, then the people of Bangladesh will come to India. We need to make our borders safe. Secondly, all extremists of the North East were removed from Bangladesh during the rule of Sheikh Hasina.”
(Includes inputs from online sources)
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