GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 6th August. As political turmoil deepens in Bangladesh, a former Indian high commissioner to Dhaka, Pankaj Saran, has warned that India must remain “very vigilant” along the border and be “prepared for all eventualities.”
Saran, who served as India’s high commissioner to Bangladesh from 2012 to 2015, discussed the crisis after mass protests forced Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to resign and flee the country.
“Trouble has been brewing for the last few weeks,” he said, noting that the government was unable to control the escalating protests, which led to the deployment of the army.
Speaking about the immediate repercussions, Saran emphasized the need for India to stay alert to prevent any spillover of the crisis across the border. He also noted the potential for anti-India sentiment to arise as a result of the turmoil.
“We will just have to wait for different political forces to find some equilibrium inside Bangladesh,” Saran stated, acknowledging the uncertainty of when stability might return. He expressed concern over the impact of the ongoing unrest on Bangladesh’s economy and its deep integration with India.
Saran stressed that while government-to-government relations might be affected, people-to-people ties and trade are likely to continue. “We will not go back to business as usual,” he cautioned, reflecting on the strong achievements in India-Bangladesh relations during Hasina’s tenure.
As the situation evolves, Saran assured that India would be prepared for all eventualities, reiterating the need for vigilance and readiness in the face of the unfolding crisis.
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