Bangladesh
Situation in Bangladesh worrisome for India: Former envoy Veena Sikri
Former High Commissioner to Bangladesh Veena Sikri has said the current situation in the neighbouring nation is 'worrisome for India'.
Speaking to The Tribune, Sikri did not rule out a foreign hand in the developments in Bangladesh and said students' movement for abolition of quotas in the neighbouring nation had morphed into a political protest with elements of the banned Jamaat-e-Islami getting involved.
She said the first instance of foreign involvement in the current development in Bangladesh was evident during Hasina's recent visit to China.
"I have always been worried about a foreign hand (in the Bangladesh situation). The most recent indicator of this was when Sheikh Hasina's visit to China went very badly. It shocked me. China did not accord her a proper protocol welcome. Xi Jinping did not give her a separate meeting. This was uncharacteristic of China. One could not fathom why China did this. But now one can see. The Pakistan-China nexus is very strong," Sikri told The Tribune.
"India is very worried about this instability. We want the situation to calm down. The Bangladesh Army Chief has said an interim government will take charge, but we do not know what shape this interim government will take. Many lists are circulating as of now. We will have to wait and see," she said.
Speaking on the emergence of Jamaat-e-Islami in Bangladeshi politics, she said: " Jamaat-e-Islami's role seems to be a very large one. It forces us to think whether there is a Pakistan-China hand behind development in Bangladesh."
Amid violent protests that left over 100 people dead, former PM Sheikh Hasina was forced to quit and leave the nation on Monday.
Bangladesh Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman said an interim government, headed by Nobel Laureate Prof Muhammad Yunus, will be formed on Thursday.
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