“We appeal to all left secular democratic forces in Bangladesh…to restore normalcy”: CPI General Secretary D Raja

New Delhi [India], August 7 (ANI): The Communist Party of India (CPI) General Secretary, D Raja expressed deep sorrow over the loss of many lives in Bangladesh and called on all the left-leaning secular democratic parties in the country to work together to restore normalcy.

Speaking to ANI on Tuesday, Raja said, “CPI expresses deep sorrow at the loss of many lives in Bangladesh. We appeal to all left secular democratic forces in Bangladesh to come together and work unitedly to restore normalcy.”

Earlier on Tuesday, August 6, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar mentioned that the government is monitoring the situation with regard to the minorities living in Bangladesh. Jaishankar noted that ties between India and Bangladesh are exceptionally close.

Since the election in January 2024, there have been considerable tensions, deep divides and growing polarisation in Bangladeshi politics and “this underlying foundation aggravated a student agitation that started in June this year.”

“There was growing violence including attacks on public buildings and violence continued in July. We counselled restraint and urged the situation be resolved by dialogue,” Jaishankar said in his statement in Rajya Sabha.

Raja further said that the students of Bangladesh came out to the streets to fight against the authoritarian, corrupt and misrule of Sheikh Hasina and this led her to flee her own country.

“Students came out on the street fighting against the authoritarian, corrupt and misrule of Sheikh Hasina and she had to flee her own country,” he said.

He further stated that, as per reports, the situation in Bangladesh is volatile and that there will be an interim government. He further questioned the composition of the government and who would be its head.

“The situation in Bangladesh as per reports is volatile and the Army has taken over; they are saying that there will be an interim govt…what will be the composition of that interim government, and who will be the head of that interim government? Nobody knows,” he said.

Bangladesh is facing a fluid political situation, with Sheikh Hasina tendering her resignation from her post in the wake of mounting protests on August 5. The protests, led mainly by students demanding an end to the quota system for government jobs, evolved into anti-government demonstrations.

A day after Sheikh Hasina resigned as Prime Minister of Bangladesh and left the country, President Mohammed Shahabuddin announced the dissolution of the country’s parliament to make way for the formation of an interim administration, Dhaka Tribune reported.

Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus has been appointed as the head of Bangladesh’s interim government, Dhaka Tribune reported. The Bangladesh President’s Press Secretary, Joynal Abedin, made the announcement.

The decision regarding the appointment of Bangladesh’s interim government head was made during a meeting between President Shahabuddin and the coordinators of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement.