India is watching closely as internal developments continue to put pressure on the Yunus government in Bangladesh

Muhammad Yunus, head of the interim government of Bangladesh. File. | Photo Credit: AP

India’s response to the point from Bangladesh regarding the removal of deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is a sign that the South Block does not want to escalate any problem with Dhaka and that it wants to be cautious. Sources in New Delhi said on Thursday (December 26, 2024) that India does not want to add to the difficulties the interim government is already facing as seen in student activities and right-wing outfits that have taken an anti-India position. .

An official spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs acknowledged on Monday that Bangladesh had sent a note seeking the extradition of Sheikh Hasina, saying, “At this time, we have no comment on the matter.” The moderate Indian response added the latest layer to the debate that has been raging since Ms Hasina left Bangladesh on August 5 amid dramatic scenes. In October, Bangladesh’s interim administration issued an arrest warrant for Ms Hasina.

Sources here have revealed that they are looking forward to developments within Bangladesh that show “increasing pressure” on the interim government led by Prof. Mohammad Yunus. On 9 December, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri visited Dhaka and participated in a Consultation with the Foreign Office (FCO) and raised issues such as the treatment of religious minorities and the attack on the Indira Gandhi Cultural Center in Dhaka.

Since Mr. Misri’s visit, there have been many incidents that have caused concern here. Former Principal Staff Officer and former Director General of Bangladesh’s Border Guards Lt General Moinul Islam was denied permission to fly abroad earlier this week amid reports that he had been detained. On December 26, the interim government announced that foreigners living in Bangladesh will have to reschedule their stay before January 31, 2025, failing which, they will be dealt with by legal means. The latest move is reportedly being taken to deal with the large number of foreigners being reported inside Bangladesh.

Meanwhile, mobs supporting the suspended decision reportedly forced five senior journalists to leave their positions at the leading news channel. According to a German news source DWtop five journalists of Sami TV they were asked to resign after being targeted by a mob led by student organizer Hasnat Abdullah. In a post on Facebook, Mr Abdullah admitted that he had gone to the investors behind Samay TV to “protest” senior journalists. “Samay TV has been misrepresenting my comments and supporting the agenda of a corrupt political party,” Mr Abdullah said.

Officials here said that India is following all the developments related to the interim government of Bangladesh and has a fair view of the internal pressure building up the power structure brought by Prof Yunus. The Yunus administration also expanded the advisory council in November and included new advisers including Mahfuj Alam, who was the student coordinator of the Anti Discrimination Students Movement, which shows that it is willing to comply with the need for greater representation of activists and new leaders in the government. The impact of the advisers who have risen in the ranks of student activists against Hasina can be assessed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh has announced that it will hold a conference on “Building a new Bangladesh: Internal reform and foreign policy” on December 29 where the two invited speakers will be Nahid Islam and Mahfuj Alam. The event will be conducted by Mohammed Jashim Uddin, Foreign Secretary of Bangladesh.