'Worrying That Minorities, Temples Came Under Attack; Sheikh Hasina Requested To Come To India': Jaishankar On Bangladesh Crisis

External Affairs Minister (EAM) Dr S Jaishankar explained the Bangladesh crisis in Rajya Sabha on Tuesday (6 August) and expressed concerns over the attacks on the Hindu minorities happening in the country.

He said that after the events took a "serious turn" on 4 August, Sheikh Hasina decided to resign from the post of Bangladesh Prime Minister on 5 August and requested permission to come to India "for the moment."

"We simultaneously received a request for flight clearance from the Bangladesh authorities. She arrived yesterday evening in Delhi," Jaishankar said adding that the Ministry is in touch with Indians in Bangladesh.

"There are an estimated 19,000 Indian nationals there, of which about 9,000 are students. The bulk of students have already returned to India in the month of July," the EAM elaborated.

Jaishankar explained that the tensions began after the January 2024 elections and intensified by July when the properties of individuals associated with the regime were torched in Bangladesh.

"What was particularly worrying was that minorities, their businesses and temples also came under attack at multiple locations. The full extent of this is still not clear," the EAM said.

"We are also monitoring the situation with regard to the status of minorities," he said welcoming the initiatives by various groups and organisations to protect Hindus but expressing concern as well.

Jaishankar informed the Upper House of the Parliament that the Border Security Force (BSF) has been asked to be "exceptionally alert" and expressed hope for the normal functioning of India's diplomatic missions in Bangladesh.