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Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah. (PTI file photo)
Abdullah’s remarks come a day after Sheikh Hasina resigned as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh after 15 years in power
National Conference President and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah on Tuesday commented on the political upheaval in Bangladesh, calling it as a lesson not just for Bangladesh but for “every dictator.”
“There is extreme interest there. Their economy is bad, their internal situation is also not good. The students started a movement which no one could control, neither their Army, nor anyone else, so this is a lesson. Not only for Bangladesh but for every dictator,” Abdullah remarked.
#WATCH | On the situation in Bangladesh, National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah says, “There is extreme interest there. Their economy is bad, their internal situation is also not good. The students started a movement which no one could control, neither their Army, nor anyone… pic.twitter.com/4FlzpyRpNg— ANI (@ANI) August 6, 2024
He further added, “There comes a time when the patience of the people is over and that is what happened.”
Hasina steps down amid political crisis
Abdullah’s remarks come a day after Sheikh Hasina resigned as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh after 15 years in power. She fled the country on Monday amid escalating political tensions ignited by student protests against a controversial job quota system.
The student-led protests, which began last month, were initially driven by discontent over a job quota scheme that reserved 30 per cent of civil service positions for families of veterans from the 1971 liberation war. The protests quickly evolved into a broader anti-government movement demanding Hasina’s resignation.
Commenting on Hasina fleeing the country, Abdullah said, “There (in Bangladesh) was a feeling that a voice should be raised against the oppression being done on Muslims in the world…If she (Sheikh Hasina) did not run from there, she would have been killed too.”
Hasina requests safe passage to India
After her departure, Hasina, 76, reportedly flew to India in a military aircraft and landed at an airfield near New Delhi.
Earlier today, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar informed Parliament that Hasina requested safe passage to India following her abrupt resignation.
“At very short notice, she requested approval to come for the moment to India. We simultaneously received a request for flight clearance from Bangladesh authorities. She arrived yesterday evening in Delhi,” Jaishankar stated.
According to reports, Hasina is still in India.
Catch the latest developments on Bangladesh Unrest with our live blog.
