Sheikh Hasina Bangladesh News Highlights: Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus appointed head of interim govt

Air India will operate its scheduled flights from Delhi to Dhaka on Wednesday and is also likely to operate a special flight to bring back people from the Bangladesh capital, according to sources.

Vistara and IndiGo will also operate their scheduled flights on Wednesday to Dhaka, which is witnessing a volatile situation amid protests.

On Tuesday, Air India operated its evening flight to Dhaka. It had cancelled the morning flight to the city.

Bangladesh has been witness to dramatic developments in the last couple of days. Sheikh Hasina, who ruled the country with an iron fist for 15 years, resigned as prime minister on Monday following massive protests that initially began as an agitation against a job quota scheme but weeks later morphed into a mass movement demanding her ouster from power.

PTI

Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus was appointed as the head of Bangladesh's interim government, President's Press Secretary said, reports PTI.

Sheikh Hasina Bangladesh News LIVE: Families of those killed in Bangladesh's student protests on Tuesday presented an 11-point list of demands, which includes job rehabilitation, to the interim government poised to replace the ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's regime.

The death toll from the large-scale protests against the Hasina government's job quota system has climbed to 440. Over the weekend alone, more than 200 people were killed as violent clashes erupted between police and predominantly student protesters.

Sheikh Hasina Bangladesh News LIVE: In response to the ongoing unrest in Bangladesh, the BSF Meghalaya Frontier, responsible for a 444 km stretch of the international border with Bangladesh has stepped up security measures to strengthen border control and management.

Sheikh Hasina Bangladesh News LIVE: The Odisha government has increased surveillance along its coast due to the ongoing turmoil in Bangladesh, officials said on Tuesday. They said that illegal immigrants from Bangladesh often enter India by sea and reach the state's extensive coastline.

Sheikh Hasina Bangladesh News LIVE: Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe expressed concern on Tuesday over Sheikh Hasina’s situation, suggesting that if Hasina had released former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia from prison earlier, she might still be in power.

“While I prefer not to delve into the internal politics of Bangladesh, a country with which we have friendly relations, I want to make a point. Despite her resignation, it’s important to remember that she extended a USD 200 million loan to us during our country's most challenging time,” Wickremesinghe stated at a Colombo event.

He was referring to the financial aid provided by the Hasina administration during Sri Lanka’s economic crisis in 2022, which was the only external support aside from India’s USD 4 billion aid package.

“It’s only fair to acknowledge the contributions of someone who is currently facing difficulties. I also welcome Khaleda Zia’s release from jail. Had Sheikh Hasina done this earlier, she might still be Prime Minister,” he added.

Sheikh Hasina Bangladesh News LIVE: Hundreds of Hindu homes, businesses, and temples have been vandalised since the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, a community association reported on Tuesday.

Hindus make up about 8% of Bangladesh's 170 million population and have historically supported Hasina's Awami League party, which identifies as largely secular, as opposed to the opposition bloc that includes a hardline Islamist party.

India, currently sheltering Hasina after she fled on Monday amid deadly protests following 15 years in power, stated that what was "particularly worrying was that minorities, their businesses, and temples also came under attack at multiple locations."

The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council (BHBCUC) reported that 200-300 primarily Hindu homes and businesses have been vandalized since Monday, with 15-20 Hindu temples damaged. Up to 40 people have been injured, though none seriously, according to its general secretary, Rana Dasgupta, who spoke to Reuters.

Sheikh Hasina Bangladesh News LIVE: Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus stated on Tuesday that he is prepared to lead an interim government in Bangladesh following mass protests that led to the departure of longtime ruler Sheikh Hasina, according to news agency AFP.

"I am honoured by the trust of the protesters who wish for me to lead the interim government," he expressed in a written statement to AFP.

"If action is needed in Bangladesh, for my country and for the courage of my people, then I will take it," he added, also advocating for "free elections."

Sheikh Hasina Bangladesh News LIVE: The Bangladesh Army has announced changes to several top-level positions, according to the Dhaka Tribune. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) shared the details in a press release on Tuesday.

Notably, Major General Ziaul Ahsan has been removed from his position.

Here are five facts about Shahabuddin: Since Sheikh Hasina's resignation and departure to India on Monday, Mohammed Shahabuddin, who has been Bangladesh's president since April 2023, is now the country's sole top constitutional authority.

- Born in 1949 in Pabna, which was part of East Pakistan before Bangladesh gained independence. As a student, he was actively involved in the struggle for independence from Pakistan in 1971.

- In 1975, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the independence leader and father of Hasina, appointed Shahabuddin as the district joint secretary of the Bangladesh Krishak Sramik Awami League, a political organization representing farmers and workers that was affiliated with the Awami League party.

- Shahabuddin spent three years in prison following the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1975.

- A former district judge, Shahabuddin led an investigative panel that examined violence against Awami League members and supporters during the party's time in opposition.

- When Hasina became prime minister, Shahabuddin was elected unopposed as the president of Bangladesh.

(Reuters)

Sheikh Hasina Bangladesh News LIVE: Air India announced that it will resume its evening flights between Delhi and Dhaka today, following cancellations the previous day due to unrest in Bangladesh. The airline tweeted: "Air India will operate its evening flights AI237/238 on the Delhi-Dhaka-Delhi sector on 6 August 2024. In addition, due to the prevailing situation in Dhaka, Air India is offering a one-time waiver on rescheduling to customers with confirmed bookings on any Air India flight to and from Dhaka between 4th and 7th August 2024, if they desire to do so. The tickets would have to be booked on or prior to 5th August. We would like to reiterate that at Air India, the safety of our customers and crew remains top priority. For more information, please contact our Contact Centre at 011 69329333, 011 69329999 or visit our website http://airindia.com."

On Monday, both IndiGo and Air India cancelled their flights from India to Dhaka due to the ongoing unrest in the neighbouring country.

Sheikh Hasina Bangladesh News LIVE: European Union (EU) diplomats in Bangladesh 'very concerned' about reports of attacks on minorities, news agency AFP reported citing a statement.

Sheikh Hasina Bangladesh News LIVE: A Dhaka court has granted bail to more than 1,000 BNP and Jamaat leaders and activists, including BNP Standing Committee member and former minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, in connection with a case involving sabotage related to the quota reform movement, Dhaka Tribune reported.

Sheikh Hasina Bangladesh News LIVE: Attendance at various government offices in Dhaka remained notably low on Tuesday amid heightened fear and anxiety following the collapse of Sheikh Hasina's government, according to local media reports.

Bangladesh plunged into turmoil after Prime Minister Hasina resigned and fled the country aboard a military aircraft, leaving the Army to address the power vacuum.

The first day after Hasina's departure saw a tense atmosphere at the Secretariat, with significantly reduced attendance in ministry offices. Ministers and Members of Parliament were notably absent, and those who did attend were reported to be overwhelmed with fear and anxiety, as noted by the Dhaka Tribune.

Sheikh Hasina Bangladesh News LIVE: Ajai Sahai, Director General and CEO of the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO), told news agency ANI in an exclusive interview that current border issues have led to a near-complete halt in export and import activities with Bangladesh.

Sahai said, "Further investment in Bangladesh definitely must have been put on hold, but beyond that, I think they are simply watching the situation and hoping that it normalises so business can continue as usual."

He noted that disruptions have been noticeable over the past two weeks, impacting exports to some extent. Although perishable goods were being exported as usual, they, too, have been affected since yesterday.

Sheikh Hasina Bangladesh News LIVE: The death toll from anti-government protests in Bangladesh rose to 440 on Tuesday, with an additional 100 fatalities reported since Sheikh Hasina's departure from the country, news agency PTI reported citing local media.

- Efforts by the army to restore order in the violence-stricken nation are ongoing.

- Despite the high number of casualties, BDNews24.com reported that on Tuesday, signs of normalcy began to return, with police and army personnel patrolling the streets.

- Schools reopened after a lengthy closure due to protests against Hasina's controversial job quota system.

- Dhaka experienced relative calm on Tuesday following a day of unrest and a tense night.

- Public transport, including buses and battery-run rickshaws, resumed operations, and traders reopened their shops.

- Government vehicles were seen heading to offices, indicating a return to normalcy.

Sheikh Hasina Bangladesh News LIVE: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar stated on Tuesday that India has been consistently communicating with Bangladeshi authorities amid the country's political crisis following Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's resignation and departure.

During his address to the Rajya Sabha, the minister said, “In the last 24 hours, we have also been in regular touch with the authorities in Dhaka. This is the situation as of now. I seek the understanding and support of the House in regard to sensitive issues regarding an important neighbour on which there has always been a strong national consensus.” Dig deeper

Sheikh Hasina Bangladesh News LIVE: On Tuesday, the Bangladesh Police Subordinate Employees Association announced an indefinite strike to address security concerns. The association released a statement on Tuesday afternoon, as reported by Bangla Tribune.

Following the collapse of Sheikh Hasina's Awami League government, police personnel across Bangladesh have faced increased threats and insecurity, with police stations becoming frequent targets for miscreants.

Recently, several policemen have been killed in clashes involving protesters and Awami League leaders and activists who are demanding the government's resignation.

Sheikh Hasina Bangladesh News LIVE: AAP MP Sanjay Singh criticized the BJP-led Centre on Tuesday, stating, “The foreign minister informed us about the situation in Bangladesh. We did not question this because it concerns national security. However, AAP is a national party with MPs in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. Perhaps PM Modi doesn't favor us, but national security should not be subject to the Prime Minister's personal preferences. The government has not explained why we were not invited. This is the first time we were excluded, although we attended the all-party meeting on Afghanistan.”

External affairs minister S Jaishankar informed an all-party meeting on Tuesday that India has assured assistance to Sheikh Hasina. This announcement came a day after the former Bangladesh Prime Minister, facing difficulties, fled Dhaka and arrived in Ghaziabad.

Sheikh Hasina Bangladesh News LIVE: The president's office announced the dissolution of the Bangladesh Parliament hours after protesting student leaders set a deadline for its dissolution and warned that a “strict programme” would be launched if it was not met.

Sheikh Hasina Bangladesh News LIVE: President Mohammed Shahabuddin dissolved parliament on Tuesday to facilitate the formation of an interim administration, Reuters reported.

According to the Dhaka Tribune, the dissolution followed a meeting where President Shahabuddin consulted with the heads of the three armed forces, leaders from various political parties, civil society representatives, and leaders of the Students Against Discrimination movement.

The press release confirmed the national parliament's dissolution.

Additionally, the release noted that Bangladesh National Party (BNP) Chairperson Khaleda Zia has been released.

Sheikh Hasina News Live Updates: An alert has been issued in various parts of Bihar following the unrest in neighbouring Bangladesh, news agency PTI reported citing a senior police official on Tuesday.

Additional Director General of Police (Headquarters), J S Gangwar, explained that the alert was specifically issued for districts near Bangladesh.

"An alert has been sounded in all such districts. The police have been instructed to keep vigil in close coordination with central paramilitary forces,” he told PTI.

Despite no district in Bihar directly bordering Bangladesh, the state shares a lengthy, porous boundary with Nepal, often exploited by infiltrators from other countries to enter Indian territory.

Bangladesh News LIVE: Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's travel plans have encountered obstacles due to "uncertainties," making it unlikely she will leave India in the next few days, according to a PTI report citing sources familiar with the situation.

The sources indicated that the Awami League leader intended to travel to London via India, and her aides notified Indian authorities of her plans before she arrived in Hindon.

Sheikh Hasina Bangladesh News LIVE: Bangladesh's first female Prime Minister and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Khaleda Zia has been released from house arrest after anti-government protests ousted her bitter rival Sheikh Hasina from power, news agency AFP reported citing a party spokesperson on Tuesday.