In response to escalating political instability in Bangladesh, non-essential personnel and their families at the Indian High Commission in Dhaka are being evacuated and returning to India via commercial flights, according to sources. This decision comes as a precautionary measure, with these staff members opting to leave voluntarily. Despite this evacuation, all essential diplomats, including the High Commissioner, remain stationed at the mission and continue to fulfill their duties from the embassy. The situation in Bangladesh has been rapidly evolving following recent political developments.
Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who resigned from her position, arrived in India earlier this week on Monday. Subsequently, on Tuesday, President Mohammed Shahabuddin dissolved the Bangladeshi parliament. In a significant political move, President Shahabuddin appointed Nobel Peace Prize laureate Mohammad Yunus to lead a newly established interim government. This decision was announced after President Shahabuddin convened a meeting at Bangabhaban, the presidential palace, which included the heads of the country’s three military services and a 13-member delegation from the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement. The interim government is expected to be further composed of additional members, whose appointments will be finalized following discussions with various political parties in Bangladesh.
The current situation bears resemblance to a past evacuation scenario that occurred in August 2021. At that time, the deteriorating security conditions in Afghanistan, following the withdrawal of U.S. troops, necessitated the evacuation of Indian diplomatic staff. Two Indian Air Force C-17 Globemaster III transport aircraft were dispatched to Kabul on August 15 to evacuate Indian embassy personnel, including members of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police who were tasked with protecting the mission. More than 120 individuals, including Ambassador Rudrendra Tandon, were safely evacuated and flown to Jamnagar in Gujarat. The ongoing developments in Bangladesh are being closely monitored by Indian officials, with measures being taken to ensure the safety of Indian diplomatic staff and their families in the region.
