Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a crucial meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) on Monday to discuss the unfolding situation in Bangladesh. Key members of his cabinet attended the meeting, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba, Principal Secretary to the PM P.K. Mishra, Research and Analysis Wing Chief Ravi Sinha, and Intelligence Bureau Director Tapan Deka.
Political Crisis in Bangladesh
The meeting was called in response to a significant political crisis in neighboring Bangladesh. The crisis escalated when Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled the country. Hasina, who had been in power for 15 years, arrived at Hindon Airbase in India and met with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.
Hasina’s resignation came after widespread protests against her government. The protests, which began in mid-July, were initially sparked by a controversial quota system that reserved 30 percent of civil service jobs for the families of veterans who fought in the 1971 liberation war. The protests quickly escalated into calls for her to step down. Over the past two days, more than 100 people have been killed in the violent clashes.
Military Involvement in Bangladesh
Following Hasina’s departure, the Bangladesh Army announced that it would assist in forming an interim government. Army Chief Waker-uz-Zaman stated that the military would take over responsibility for maintaining law and order in the country.
Sheikh Hasina had recently secured her fourth consecutive term as Prime Minister in an election held in January, which was boycotted by the main opposition party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party led by Begum Khaleda Zia. Hasina has been a central figure in Bangladeshi politics since she won a long-standing power struggle with Zia in 2009.
Impact on India-Bangladesh Relations
In response to the unrest in Bangladesh, India has suspended all train services to the country indefinitely. The Ministry of Railways announced that the Maitri Express, Bandhan Express, and Mitali Express, which operated between the two nations, had been canceled since mid-July due to the violent protests.
The situation in Bangladesh remains tense, and India’s government continues to monitor developments closely. The involvement of the military in Bangladesh’s political crisis marks a significant shift, and the international community is watching how the interim government will be formed and how peace and stability will be restored.
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