We are in touch with the Indian Community: Jaishankar over the Bangladesh crisis

S. Jaishankar, the Minister of External Affairs, spoke to the members of the Rajya Sabha about the actions that the Indian government will take and how they are in contact with the ‘interim government’ of Bangladesh, as the former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned from her post yesterday and came to India. The Indian government is trying to establish a connection between both countries to look for the maintenance of Bangladesh's law and order situation. 

He even mentioned that the majority of minorities have been targeted in Dhaka in a protest on Monday, which is a point of concern for the country. "On August 4, events took a severe turn. Attacks on police, including police stations and government installations, intensified even as overall levels of violence greatly escalated. The properties of individuals associated with the regime were torched across the country. 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," Jaishankar said.

"We are in close and continuous touch with the Indian community in Bangladesh through our diplomatic missions," he said in his statement in Rajya Sabha. We are also monitoring the situation with minorities. There are an estimated 19,000 Indian nationals there, of which about 9000 are students. The bulk of the students returned in July. There are reports of initiatives by various groups and organizations to ensure their protection and well-being," Jaishankar said in his statement in Rajya Sabha.

The External Minister mentioned the concern of the government to bring back the Indian nationals from Bangladesh safely. As S. Jaishankar mentioned, the actual number of Indians living in Bangladesh is about 19,000, of which 9,000 are students, and the government is planning to bring back the citizens as soon as possible. 

He said that the government will look into the matter until the law and order are restored completely. “We will naturally remain deeply concerned till law and order are visibly restored," he said. "Our border guarding forces have been instructed to be exceptionally alert in light of this complex situation. In the last 24 hours, we have been in touch with authorities in Dhaka," Jaishankar explained.

S. Jaishankar commented on the damage to Hindu temples and the attacks happening in Dhaka, as the situation right now is not good for the safety of minorities in the nation. “An Indian cultural center was vandalized by an unruly mob in Bangladesh's capital, and four Hindu temples suffered "minor" damages across the country, eyewitnesses and a community leader said.”

"These are minor damages," Jaishankar said. However, some Hindu religious leaders are tense by seeing the situation as it can be turned into a worse situation anytime, as Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigns.