'Can't Rule Out Involvement of Foreign Powers in Bangladesh': Harsh Vardhan Shringla

New Delhi: As Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled from her country, former Foreign Secretary and ex-Ambassador to Bangladesh, Harsh Vardhan Shringla on Monday said that one cannot rule out the interference of “foreign powers” which has resulted in the current political unrest in the country.

Shringla said that certain powers across the globe had vested interests in what was going on in Bangladesh and its proximity with India.  

"You can't rule out the involvement of foreign powers who are inimical to Bangladesh's interest and to our security also. You cannot rule out the fact that certain interests have been fishing in troubled waters. But I think the situation itself was a result of several underlying factors, inherent within Bangladesh," Shringla was quoted as saying to the news agency ANI.

He further highlighted that the economic situation of Bangladesh was in not in good shape post-COVID pandemic.     

“COVID-19 has hit Bangladesh's economy very hard. In addition to that, the Ukraine conflict has resulted in spiking the prices of essential commodities. They had a very difficult balance of payment. Inflation has gone up by 17-20%. So, all of this is essentially now coming to a situation where people are expressing their frustration on the streets,” he added. 

PM Hasina Resigns

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned on Monday, ending 15 years in power, following the unrest in the South Asian country. The Bangladesh PM landed in Agartala later in the evening.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina left the official residence in Dhaka after violence erupted. Her current whereabouts are unknown. The situation in Dhaka is highly sensitive, and the Prime Minister's residence is under siege by a mob."

The Bangladesh leader left the country in a military helicopter with her sister, Bangladesh’s military chief Gen. Waker-uz-Zaman announced plans to seek the president's guidance on forming an interim government.

He promised that the military would stand down, and to launch an investigation into the deadly crackdowns that fueled outrage against the government, and asked citizens for time to restore peace.

The protests began peacefully in late June, as students sought an end to a quota system for government jobs, but turned violent after clashes between protesters and police and pro-government activists at Dhaka University.In fresh unrest, nearly 100 people were killed as the protesters clashed with security officials and the ruling party activists across the country.

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday resigned and left the country, several news reports said, amid massive protests against her government that claimed more than 106 lives in the last two days.