Virendra Pandit
New Delhi: In its first reaction to the Bangladesh imbroglio, Pakistan on Wednesday expressed hope for a “peaceful and swift return to normalcy” in the breakaway country which was known as East Pakistan until 1971.
As the ousted former PM Sheikh Hasina, who is waiting in India ahead of taking political asylum elsewhere, Islamabad said it “stands in solidarity with the people of Bangladesh.”
“We are confident that the resilient spirit and unity of the Bangladeshi people will lead them towards a harmonious future,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement in Islamabad, the media reported on Wednesday
.
Pakistan also said it is “sincerely hoping for a peaceful and swift return to normalcy.”
Since 1971, Pakistan denounced Bangladesh’s founding father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, as the main villain behind the breakup of the Islamic country. After the ouster of the Hasina government on Monday, Islamist fundamentalist Jamaat-i-Islami’s “student” wing vandalized Mujib’s statues, memorabilia, museums, etc to erase his memory from the people’s minds, and killed many leaders of the Awami League, the ruling outfit headed by Hasina.
On Tuesday, Bangladesh President Mohammed Shahabuddin dissolved the parliament to pave the way for an interim administration. Leading banker and economist, Muhammad Yunus, 84, a Nobel Peace Laureate (2006), will lead the country’s army-backed interim government.
The chief instigator of the massive riots, Jamaat-e-Islami, is suspected to have the backing of Pakistan’s notorious Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).
Only last week, the Hasina government banned both the Jamaat and its student wing, Islami Chhatra Shibir, under the anti-terror law. These “students,” who had infiltrated educational institutions in Bangladesh, masterminded the unprecedented violence that consumed her government.
Their recent “India Out” campaign, after Hasina won the allegedly rigged general election in January, was also led by the Jamaat.
Meanwhile, amid the escalating anarchy in Bangladesh, India on Wednesday evacuated non-essential staff and their families from its High Commission in Dhaka and consulates in four cities, the media reported on Wednesday.
All Indian diplomats have, however, remained in Bangladesh, and the missions are continuing to operate in Dhaka, Chittagong, Rajshahi, Khulna, and Sylhet.
The Indian High Commission reassured that their operations are ongoing and released helpline numbers for Indians residing in Bangladesh.
The helpline numbers are:
– +8801958383679
– +8801958383680
– +8801937400591
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday that nearly 19,000 Indian nationals, including 9,000 students, lived in Bangladesh until the agitations started. The majority of these students had already returned to India in July.
New Delhi remains in close contact with the Indian community in Bangladesh, ensuring their safety and providing necessary assistance.
Amid the unrest, Air India and IndiGo operated special flights to bring more than 400 people to India from Dhaka. The Air India flight evacuated 205 passengers, including six infants from Dhaka, landing in Delhi early on Wednesday. The charter flight was arranged at short notice, overcoming infrastructure challenges at Dhaka Airport.
Despite the current political turmoil, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar emphasized the strong ties between India and Bangladesh, adding New Delhi is also closely monitoring the situation concerning minorities in Bangladesh, ensuring their protection during this ongoing instability.