Sheikh Hasina meets NSA Ajit Doval after landing at Ghaziabad, may seek asylum in London
New Delhi/IBNS: Bangladesh leader Sheikh Hasina met India's National Security Advisor Ajit Doval Monday evening after landing at the Hindon Air Force base in Uttar Pradesh's Ghaziabad, media reports said.
The 76-year-old five-time Prime Minister was forced to resign from her position earlier in the day after more than 300 people died in violent protests over a quota for government jobs in that country.
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.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the situation in Bangladesh. There are no reports yet if Modi will meet Hasina.
India's Border Security Force is on high alert across the country's 4,096 km border with Bangladesh, with field commanders ordered to take "on ground" positions and be prepared for anything.
ALSO READ: Live Updates on Bangladesh Turmoil
Indian Railways has stopped all trains to Bangladesh and Air India has cancelled its two daily flights to Dhaka.
IndiGo has suspended all flights for the next 30 hours given "the situation in Dhaka, all flights scheduled for tomorrow have been cancelled. We understand this may cause significant inconvenience and disruption to your travel plans, and we sincerely regret this development," the airline said.
#6ETravelAdvisory : In view of the ongoing situation in #Dhaka, all flights scheduled for tomorrow have unfortunately been cancelled. We understand that this may cause significant inconvenience and disruption to your travel plans and we sincerely regret this development.
— IndiGo (@IndiGo6E) August 5, 2024
Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Army, which gave Sheikh Hasina 45 minutes to resign after her government couldn't control the violence, has taken 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.
"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.
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
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.
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