Bangladesh anarchists tried to create “Sri Lanka-type violence”, says Sheikh Hasina to Indian envoy

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today told the Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka that “anarchists” were behind the recent mayhem in her country and that the aim was to topple her government.

Bangladesh recently made headlines around the world for the violent clashes between the police and mostly student protesters. The latter demanded an end to the quota system that reserved 30 per cent of government jobs for relatives of 1971 freedom-fighters.

“Actually, they (the anarchists) planned to create Sri Lanka-type violence and oust the government,” said Sheikh Hasina, when Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma called on her at her official residence Ganabhaban.

Sri Lanka was hit by an unprecedented economic crisis in 2022 when inflation skyrocketed, foreign reserves dwindled, and the country ran short of fuel, food and medicines. The economic turmoil led to months of public protests that eventually toppled the government of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

Earlier in the day, Hasina said that her government had sought co-operation from the United Nations and other international organisations to conduct “a fair and proper investigation” into the recent nationwide violence, in order to punish the real culprits involved in the attacks.

Prime Minister’s Press Secretary Md Nayeemul Islam Khan briefed the reporters after the meeting between Hasina and Verma.

Hasina, who was re-elected for a record fourth term in January 2024, said that the recent movement for quota reform was “not a [normal] movement at all”; rather “at one stage, it had turned into almost a terrorist-like attack”. She was quoted as saying this by the state-run BSS news agency.

The Bangladesh unrest in mid-July killed at least 150 people, injured several thousands, and damaged major government installations.

The protests subsided after the apex Appellate Division of unitary Bangladesh’s Supreme Court on July 21 ordered a massive quota reform, keeping only 7 per cent of reserve posts instead of the existing 56 per cent.

The government subsequently issued a Gazette notification in line with the order, saying that 93 per cent of jobs would be open to candidates on merit.

India had described the violent protests in Bangladesh as an “internal” matter of the country.

While talking about bilateral ties with the neighbouring countries, Sheikh Hasina said that the doors of Bangladesh were open for strengthening connectivity with India, Nepal, and Bhutan.

The Indian High Commissioner also offered his condolences for the loss of life and property during the protests. He welcomed the steady restoration of normalcy and gradual resumption of economic activities in Bangladesh.

Verma said that India, as the closest neighbour, always gave its support to the government and people of Bangladesh for a vision of progress and prosperity.

The successful visit of Prime Minister Hasina to India had led to substantial outcomes that consolidated past achievements and created a blueprint for future co-operation, added the envoy. “And based on the two countries’ national development visions — Vision 2041 for Bangladesh and Vision 2047 for India — both countries entered into a new era of co-operation,” he said.