With Sheikh Hasina stationed at Ghaziabad, PM Modi chairs key cabinet meeting on Bangladesh unrest
The Cabinet Committee on Security met at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's official residence Monday evening amid the turmoil in neighbouring Bangladesh and its leader Sheikh Hasina arriving in Ghaziabad after fleeing the country following massive protests over job quotas.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman were present in the meeting.
Earlier, PM Modi was briefed on the situation in Bangladesh by S Jaishankar.
Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, who is the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, has also spoken to Jaishankar.
Earlier Monday, the 76-year-old five-time Bangladesh Prime Minister was forced to resign from her position after more than 300 people died in violent protests over a quota for government jobs in that country.
On Monday, the Bangladesh Army, which gave Sheikh Hasina 45 minutes to resign after her government couldn't control the violence, took charge of the country. In a televised address Army chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman said the military will form an "interim government" and told protesters to stand down.
Flanked by the Naval and Air Force Chiefs, Bangladesh Army Chief General Waker-uz-Zaman says the honourable PM has resigned and that an interim government will take over. pic.twitter.com/Z1pqaUeQoq
— Man Aman Singh Chhina (@manaman_chhina) August 5, 2024
"There is a crisis. I have met Opposition leaders and we have decided to form an interim government to run this country. I take all responsibility and promise to protect your life and property. Your demands will be fulfilled. Please stop the violence," the Army chief said.
Earlier in the day protesters broke into Gonobhaban - the Dhaka residence of the Prime Minister.
#BREAKING: Protesters have stormed Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina palace.#SheikhHasina #Ganabhaban #BangladeshViolence #SheikhHasinaResigns pic.twitter.com/K7ngFU6kIN
— Republic (@republic) August 5, 2024
According to local media, as many as 400,000 protesters were on the streets but it was impossible to verify the figure. Soldiers and police with armoured vehicles had barricaded routes to Hasina's office with barbed wire, media reports said, but vast crowds flooded the streets, tearing down barriers.
However, by then Hasina fled the country. She landed at the Hindon Air Force base in Uttar Pradesh's Ghaziabad. There are no reports yet if Modi will meet Hasina.
Sheikh Hasina is expected to leave for London later where she may seek political asylum, NDTV reported quoting sources.
Sources told news agency ANI Sheikh Hasina's plane, a Bangladesh Air Force C-130 military transport, is parked near the Indian Air Force's C-17 and C-130J Super Hercules aircraft hangars.
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