In the backdrop of the ongoing unrest in neighbouring Bangladesh, the Kolkata Police on Tuesday enhanced security outside the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata, an official said.

Senior police officers have also been deployed outside marketplaces, malls, eateries, and restaurants in the New Market area, which is frequented by Bangladeshis to ensure their safety and to keep a check on any untoward incident, he said.

"A total of 20 additional police personnel including those in the rank of Assistant Commissioners have been deployed outside the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission office. Officers in plain clothes have also been assigned there," he told PTI.

The Manipur government on Tuesday imposed a night curfew in Pherzawl and parts of Jiribam district to check illegal immigration from Bangladesh, officials said.

In Pherzawl district, the restrictions will be relaxed from 8 am to 4 pm. In Jiribam, where the restrictions were imposed in areas under Jiribam Municipal Council and Borobekra subdivision, the relaxation will be given from 9 am to 3 pm, they said.

Bangladesh's former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in India for the last 24 hours, has not sought asylum "anywhere", her son categorically told NDTV today, brushing off speculation. Read here

All planned cultural events at the Bangladesh Bhavan on the campus of Visva Bharati University in West Bengal's Shantiniketan have been postponed for an indefinite period because of the continuing unrest in the neighbouring country.

Bangladesh Bhavan is a centre for research on the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971. The facility inaugurated in 2018 also provides scope for research on the literary works of revolutionary poet Kazi Nazrul Islam.

Sources said a screening of the Shyam Benegal-directed biopic on Sheikh Mujibur Rahman -- 'Mujib - The Making of a Nation' -- was scheduled to be screened at the Bangladesh Bhavan this month, which now stands postponed indefinitely owing to the volatile situation in the neighbouring country.

One day after the military took control of Bangladesh following the ouster of the prime minister, the parliament in the capital Dhaka was busy with protesters coming to celebrate.

More than a month of deadly protests in which at least 422 people were killed culminated Monday in the deadliest day of violence and the end of the autocratic rule of Sheikh Hasina, who fled by helicopter to India.

"It's the freedom of the young generation," said student Parvez Hossain, 30, among the crowds in front of the building, which was empty of lawmakers after parliament was dissolved. Read here

The demonstrations started last month after the Bangladesh High Court reinstated a quota system for government jobs, overturning a 2018 decision by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government to scrap it.

That move, which covered the 30% of jobs reserved for family members of freedom fighters in the 1971 war for independence from Pakistan, followed similar student protests.

But the Supreme Court suspended the high court order after the government's appeal. It dismissed the lower court order and directed that 93% of jobs should be open to candidates on merit.

The court reserved 5% of jobs for family members of independence fighters and 2% for people from so-called backward groups and the disabled.

The students had stepped up their protest when Hasina refused to meet their demands, citing the court proceedings.

She called the protesters "razakar", an offensive term for those accused of collaborating with Pakistan's army in 1971 to betray the country.

Amid political unrest in Bangladesh, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday said that there are an estimated 19,000 Indian nationals in the country, of which about 9,000 are students, while giving an assurance that the government is in close contact with the Indian community in Dhaka.

Mr Jaishankar informed the Lok Sabha that the bulk of the students returned to India in July. Read here

The United States government said Tuesday that it had ordered non-emergency personnel to leave Bangladesh as a precaution after mass protests ousted longtime ruler Sheikh Hasina.

The State Department said that all non-emergency diplomats and other personnel as well as their family members had been ordered to leave as of Monday, although the US embassy in Dhaka remains open at limited capacity.

The United States had last month warned citizens not to travel to Bangladesh, citing the risk of civil unrest, crime and terrorism.

Prime Minister Hasina, who had been in power since 2009, fled Monday after mass protests initially spurred by anger over job quotas swelled into a movement to oust her.

Hundreds of people were killed as security forces sought to quell the unrest. The United States on Monday praised the role of the military, pointing to reports that it resisted Hasina's calls to continue using force.

The Bangladesh military has said that it will set up an interim government.

The Border Security Force (BSF) has asked locals residing along the 4,096 km-long India-Bangladesh international border to not undertake unnecessary movement in the frontier areas especially during the night in the wake of the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government in Dhaka, officials said on Tuesday.

BSF Director General (Acting) Daljit Singh Chawdhary continued his border tour for the second day as he visited integrated check post (ICP) Petrapole, the largest such facility in South Asia located at a distance of about 80 km from Kolkata, and a "highly sensitive" border post of the force in the North 24 Paraganas district along the front.

Senior RSS leader Bhaiyyaji Joshi on Tuesday said the organisation "is requesting the government" to ensure safety of the Hindus in neighbouring Bangladesh which is in the midst of political turmoil.

There have been reports about the minority Hindu community being targeted, said Joshi, a member of the Akhil Bharatiya Executive of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and its former general secretary.

The BSF has reviewed security along the India-Bangladesh border in Assam following the ongoing turmoil in the neighbouring country, an official said on Tuesday.

High alert has been sounded along BSF's Guwahati Frontier of Indo-Bangladesh border with commanders at all levels being asked to maintain utmost vigilance.

Intelligence operations have been intensified to ensure timely detection and neutralisation of any threat, the BSF spokesperson added.

He said the security situation along the international border under the Guwahati Frontier of BSF has been reviewed "anticipating various contingencies".

"A state of high alert has been declared to address any potential security threat. Commanders at all levels have been directed to maintain utmost vigilance and readiness to handle any unforeseen circumstances," he said.

China on Tuesday reacted guardedly to the unfolding crisis in Bangladesh leading to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's ouster, saying it is "closely" following the situation in the violence-hit country.

"China is closely following the developments in Bangladesh," the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in response to media queries.

"As a friendly neighbour and comprehensive strategic cooperative partner of Bangladesh, China sincerely hopes that social stability will be restored soon in the country," the ministry said.

The rapid fall of the Hasina government comes nearly a month after her high-profile visit to Beijing during which the two countries elevated their bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.

The International Monetary Fund said it remained "fully committed to Bangladesh and its people" after protests ousted the prime minister.

Bangladesh's president dissolved parliament on Tuesday, clearing the way for new elections a day after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled the country following student-led protests that left hundreds dead.

Long-term lending from multilaterals including the IMF, World Bank and the Asia Development Bank amounts to roughly a quarter of Bangladesh's GDP, according to emerging market experts Tellimer, making their continued backing key to the country's economy.

The IMF, which approved a $4.7 billion loan programme with the country in January 2023, said it was following developments and "deeply saddened by loss of lives and injuries."

"We remain fully committed to Bangladesh and its people and support efforts to ensure economic stability and deliver inclusive growth," an IMF spokesperson said in an emailed statement.

On Monday, the World Bank, which had total commitments of $2.85 billion in the year to June 30, said it was still assessing the impact of the events on its lending, but remained committed to Bangladesh's development.

Bangladesh does not have any foreign currency bonds, and its short-term external debt is just 5% of GDP, limiting market reaction to the political turmoil.

But a stagnant economy contributed to the protests; nearly 32 million young people in the nation of 170 million are out of work or education in a population. Inflation hovers around 10% per year and dollar reserves have shrunk to just three months of import cover.

Multilateral lenders will be closely watching the next steps taken by the government and the military.

"A military coup, in legal terms, would put at risk fresh external sovereign debt from multilaterals," Hasnain Malik of Tellimer said.

Bangladesh President Mohammed Shahabuddin on Tuesday met with the key coordinators of the anti-discrimination student movement at the Bangabhaban to discuss the current situation and the shape of the interim government, media reports said.

Citing one of the coordinators, Bengali language daily Prothom Alo reported that the meeting started on Tuesday evening.

"A group of 13 members of the anti-discrimination student movement is holding a meeting with the President and the three armed forces chiefs at Bangabhaban regarding the current situation and the shape of the interim government," the paper said.

President Shahabuddin earlier in the day dissolved the parliament to make way for the formation of an interim administration.

Officials said a full-fledged interim government is expected to be announced later Tuesday.

Several Indian doctors staying in Bangladesh have chosen to remain in violence-hit Dhaka, performing their duty to save lives, even as worries about their own safety have kept their parents concerned back home.

There is a scarcity of resources and doctors are overburdened amid an overnight spike in the number of casualties in many Dhaka hospitals, several Indian medical practitioners in Bangladesh said.

Talking to PTI, they said they are drawn by a "sense of duty" and have stepped in to help the hospitals deal with the ongoing crisis.

The Maharashtra government has set up a team of officials to facilitate safe return of about 20 students from the state who are studying in Bangladesh.

A list of these students has been shared with the Ministry of External Affairs, the chief minister's office said in a statement on Tuesday.

About 20 students from Maharashtra are in the neighbouring country, beset by a political crisis following widespread protests and resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, as per the officials.

Border Security Force (BSF) on Tuesday said that the curfew along the India-Bangladesh border will be strictly monitored in the wake of the illegal infiltrations following the political turmoil in Bangladesh.

BSF DIG and Spokesperson, South Bengal Frontier, A K Arya, said that meetings were held with villagers at the Uttarpara and Mustafapur Border Outpost to discuss the prevailing situation in Bangladesh after the change of power.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar told an all-party meeting on Tuesday that Bangladeshi leader Sheikh Hasina, who has arrived in India after quitting as prime minister following extraordinary protests in the neighbouring country against her rule, was in shock at the turn of events, sources said.

The government is giving her time to recover, before enquiring about her future plans, S Jaishankar said, briefing political leaders in the Parliament House.

The minister said India has spoken to the Bangladesh Army chief to ensure the safety of more than 10,000 Indian students in that country and also taken up the issue of attacks on Hindu minorities, according to a couple of leaders who attended the meeting.

In the wake of the civil unrest in Bangladesh, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Tuesday spoke to the Ministry of External Affairs for the safe and early return of students from the state stuck there.

Shinde's intervention came amid questions being raised about the safety of foreign nationals in the neighbouring country, especially the students stranded in the troubled areas.

"We give the highest priority to the safety of our students. All necessary measures are being taken for their safe return to their homeland. The state government stands with the families of the affected students during these challenging times,'' Mr Shinde said.

Nobel-winning microfinance pioneer Muhammad Yunus has been asked by Bangladeshi protest leaders to helm an interim government to replace ousted premier Sheikh Hasina, who had hounded him in speeches and through the courts.

The 84-year-old, known as the "banker to the poorest of the poor", was awarded the Peace Prize in 2006 for his work loaning small cash sums to rural women, allowing them to invest in farm tools or business equipment and boost their earnings. Read here

Nobel winner Muhammad Yunus said on Tuesday he was ready to head an interim government in Bangladesh after mass demonstrations forced longtime ruler Sheikh Hasina to flee the country.

"I am honoured by the trust of the protesters who wish for me to lead the interim government," he said in a written statement to AFP. 

"If action is needed in Bangladesh, for my country and for the courage of my people, then I will take it," he said, also calling for "free elections."

Bangladesh on Tuesday carried out a major reshuffle in the top positions in the Army, a day after prime minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled the country following deadly protests against her government over a controversial job quota system.

Maj Gen Ziaul Ahsan, the director general of the National Telecommunication Monitoring Centre (NTMC), has been relieved from service, the Dhaka Tribune newspaper reported, quoting a press release issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations Department (ISPR) - the media wing of the army.

Families of political prisoners secretly jailed in Bangladesh under the autocratic rule of ousted premier Sheikh Hasina waited desperately Tuesday for news of their relatives, as some of those missing were released.

"We need answers," said Sanjida Islam Tulee, a coordinator of Mayer Daak, meaning "The Call of the Mothers", a group campaigning for the release of people detained by Hasina's security forces.

Rights groups accused Hasina's security forces of abducting and disappearing some 600 people -- including many from the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party and the banned Jamaat-e-Islami, the country's largest Islamist party. Read here

45 Bangladeshi citizens on Tuesday returning from Kolkata were forced to disembark from a bus bound for Dhaka at Petrapole, the land port on the Indian side, due to the suspension of bus services between the two countries amidst the turmoil in Bangladesh. The neighboring nation was plunged into uncertainty following street protests over job quotas, which led to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's resignation and departure.

#WATCH | Bangladesh: Aftermath of looting and arson at Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre, Dhaka. Violent unrest erupted in the national capital yesterday, 5th August.
(Video Source: Reuters) pic.twitter.com/yObqaEbMtp

— ANI (@ANI) August 6, 2024

Air India tweets, "Air India will operate its evening flights AI237/238 on the Delhi-Dhaka-Delhi sector on 6 August 2024. In addition, due to the prevailing situation in Dhaka, Air India is offering a one-time waiver on rescheduling to customers, with confirmed bookings on any… pic.twitter.com/O8stUWX5i8

— ANI (@ANI) August 6, 2024

European Union diplomats in Bangladesh said Tuesday they were "very concerned" about reports of attacks on minority groups, a day after the prime minister was ousted following mass protests.

EU heads of mission "are very concerned about incoming reports of multiple attacks against places of worship and members of religious, ethnic and other minorities in Bangladesh", EU ambassador to Bangladesh Charles Whiteley posted on social media platform X.

Bangladesh former IT minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak detained at Dhaka airport, reports suggest he was trying to flee to India

In the wake of the evolving crisis in neighbouring Bangladesh, the security arrangements at the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata have been stepped up.

Besides increasing the number of police personnel in front of the Deputy High Commission, deployment has been enhanced on the roads and lanes near it, sources in the police said.

Bangladesh's uncompromising ex-prime minister Khaleda Zia has been released from years of house arrest after her bitter enemy Sheikh Hasina was ousted as premier and fled as protesters stormed her palace.

The ferocious rivalry between the two women -- born in blood and cemented in prison -- has defined politics in the Muslim-majority nation for decades.

Zia, 78, was sentenced to 17 years in prison for graft in 2018 under Hasina's rule.

Hasina, 76, was ousted on Monday after mass protests, with the army chief declaring the military would form an interim government.

Orders were then issued for the release of prisoners from the protests, as well as Zia.

Zia is chairperson of the key opposition Bangladesh National Party (BNP). Party spokesman A.K.M Wahiduzzaman told AFP Tuesday that she "is now freed".

She is in poor health, confined to a wheelchair with rheumatoid arthritis and struggling with diabetes and cirrhosis of the liver.

Months before her tragic fall as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina had claimed that "conspiracies" were being hatched to topple her government and that she may be assassinated just like her father and independence hero Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Read here

Foreign Minister S Jaishankar today addressed the Parliament on the ongoing Bangladesh crisis. Mr Jaishankar said that the situation in Bangladesh is still evolving, adding that India was in constant touch with authorities in Bangladesh. 

At least 24 people, including an Indonesian national, were burnt alive by a mob in Bangladesh at a starred hotel owned by a leader of Awami League party after its leader Sheikh Hasina resigned as prime minister and fled the country, local journalists and hospital sources said on Tuesday, reported news agency PTI.

Bangladesh's key police association on Tuesday said its members were going on strike, a day after the protests they had sought to crush with deadly force toppled the prime minister.

"Until the security of every member of the police is secured, we are declaring a strike," the Bangladesh Police Association said in a statement, which represents thousands of senior police officers.

"We beg an apology for what the police force has done to the innocent students," the Bangladesh Police Association statement said.

It argued its officers had been "forced to open fire", and that they had been cast as the "villain".

Bangladesh's president dissolved parliament on Tuesday, a key demand of student protesters who led demonstrations that ousted longtime ruler Sheikh Hasina, a statement read.

"The president has dissolved parliament," Shiplu Zaman, press secretary of President Mohammed Shahabuddin, said in a statement.

"Mr. Chairman Sir,

I rise to apprise this august House of certain recent developments pertaining to Bangladesh. As Hon’ble Members are aware, India-Bangladesh relations have been exceptionally close for many decades over many governments. Concern about recent violence and instability there is shared across the political spectrum. 

2.Since the election in January 2024, there has been considerable tensions, deep divides and growing polarization in Bangladesh politics. This underlying foundation aggravated a student agitation that started in June this year. There was growing violence, including attacks on public buildings and infrastructure, as well as traffic and rail obstructions. The violence continued through the month of July. Throughout this period, we repeatedly counselled restraint and urged that the situation be defused through dialogue. Similar urgings were made to various political forces with whom we were in touch.

3.Sir, despite a Supreme Court judgement on 21 July, there was no let-up in the public agitation. Various decisions and actions taken thereafter only exacerbated the situation. The agitation at this stage coalesced around a one-point agenda, that is that the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina should step down. 

4.On 4th August, events took a very serious turn. Attacks on police, including police stations and government installations, intensified even as overall levels of violence greatly escalated. Properties of individuals associated with the regime were torched across the country. What was particularly worrying was that minorities, their businesses and temples also came under attack at multiple locations. The full extent of this is still not clear. 

5.Sir, On 5th August, demonstrators converged in Dhaka despite the curfew. Our understanding is that after a meeting with leaders of the security establishment, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina apparently made the decision to resign. 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. 

6.The situation in Bangladesh Sir, is still evolving. The Army Chief, General Waker-uz-Zaman, addressed the nation on 5th August. He spoke about assuming responsibility and constituting an interim government.

7.We are in close and continuous touch with the Indian community in Bangladesh through our diplomatic missions. There are an estimated 19,000 Indian nationals there, of which about 9,000 are students. The bulk of the students have already returned to India in the month of July on the advice of the High Commission. In terms of our diplomatic presence, in addition to the High Commission in Dhaka, we have Assistant High Commissions in Chittagong, Rajshahi, Khulna and Sylhet. It is our expectation that the host government will provide the required security protection for these establishments. We look forward to their normal functioning once the situation stabilizes.

8.Chairman Sir, we are also monitoring the situation with regard to the status of minorities. There are reports of initiatives by various groups and organizations to ensure their protection and well-being. We welcome that, but will naturally remain deeply concerned till law and order is visibly restored. Our border guarding forces have also been instructed to be exceptionally alert in view of this complex situation. 

9.In the last 24 hours, we have also been in regular touch with the authorities in Dhaka. This is the situation as of now. I seek the understanding and support of the House in regard to sensitive issues regarding an important neighbour on which there has always been strong national consensus."

Suo-moto statement in Rajyasabha on the situation in Bangladesh. https://t.co/ceM41AEATE

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) August 6, 2024

"The situation is still evolving in Bangladesh, we are in close touch with the Indian community there," said Foreign minister S Jaishankar addressing the Parliament.

A new "interim government" - to be advised, most likely, by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus - is taking shape in crisis-hit Bangladesh following Sheikh Hasina resigning as Prime Minister.

Bangladesh President Mohammed Shahabuddin gave his assent late Monday for that temporary administration. 

At the all-party meeting on Bangladesh turmoil, Foreign Minister S Jaishankar said they want to give time to Sheikh Hasina - who is currently in Delhi - to let the Centre know about her future course of action, it is learnt. He also said that the government is monitoring the evolving situation and that it is in touch with the Bangladeshi Army - which is set to form an interim government after Ms Hasina's ouster - to ensure the safety of the Indian nationals and the minorities in the neighbouring state.

Foreign Minister S Jaishankar today chaired an all-party meeting to discuss the fall of Sheikh Hasina government and the Army's takeover in neighbouring Bangladesh amid violent protests.

Mr Jaishankar briefed the leaders of all parties about the situation in the violence-hit nation and the steps taken by the Indian government to address the potential security, economic, and diplomatic repercussions of this situation. Sources say the Foreign Minister discussed the Centre's strategy to limit the fall out with the new dispensation in Bangladesh for backing the ousted leader.

The Indian government has called an all-party meeting today to discuss the fall of Sheikh Hasina government in neighbouring Bangladesh amid violent protests. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been briefed on the Bangladesh situation by Foreign Minister S Jaishankar. There is no word yet if PM Modi will meet Ms Hasina. Ms Hasina resigned yesterday and fled the country as vast crowds of angry protesters demanded her exit. 

Exiled Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen, a staunch critic of communalism, has found an irony in ousted Bangladesh premier Sheikh Hasina's escape in the face of deadly student-led protests.

Ms Nasreen said Hasina had thrown her out of Bangladesh to "please Islamists", and the "same Islamists" were part of the student movement that forced her to leave the country.

"Hasina in order to please Islamists threw me out of my country in 1999 after I entered Bangladesh to see my mother in her deathbed and never allowed me to enter the country again. The same Islamists have been in the student movement who forced Hasina to leave the country today," said Ms Nasreen in an online post.

Ms Hasina fled to India in a military plane yesterday and is likely to fly to London to seek asylum in the UK.

Exiled Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen blamed Sheikh Hasina for allowing "Islamists to grow" and said she herself was responsible for her situation. "Hasina had to resign and leave the country. She was responsible for her situation. She made Islamists to grow. She allowed her people to involve in corruption. Now Bangladesh must not become like Pakistan. Army must not rule. Political parties should bring democracy & secularism," she said in an online post.

The Indian government has granted former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina an interim stay following the collapse of her government in the South Asian country on Monday, media reports said.

During this period, India will offer comprehensive logistical support as Hasina pursues asylum in the UK, Daily Sun reported.

Her stay in India is approved only temporarily, pending her relocation to Britain.

The World Bank on Monday said it was assessing the impact of events in Bangladesh on its loan program with the country after its Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled.

Hasina's exit came after hundreds of people were killed in a crackdown on demonstrations that began as protests against preferential job quotas and swelled into a movement demanding her downfall.

The United States is monitoring the Bangladesh situation "closely" and urges that the formation of an interim government there be democratic and inclusive after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and left the country, according to a White House National Security Council spokesperson.

Bangladesh descended into chaos on Tuesday as Prime Minister Hasina fled the country in a military aircraft while the army stepped in to fill the power vacuum after days of anti-government protests that have killed more than 300 people.

Amid the ongoing crisis in Bangladesh after the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, West Bengal Police urged people to avoid sharing provocative videos.

In a post on X, West Bengal Police wrote, "Given the current situation in neighbouring Bangladesh, we have noticed a few posts and videos on social media that may create discord and unrest. Please do not pay attention to rumours, do not share provocative videos, do not step into a fake news trap..."

Bangladesh President Mohammed Shahabuddin said on Monday that an interim government would be formed after dissolving the parliament as he ordered the release of former prime minister Khaleda Zia, who is under house arrest after being convicted in several cases.

He made the remarks during a meeting with the leaders of various political parties and civil society representatives at Bangabhaban in the presence of the chief of three forces, the Bengali-language daily Prothom Alo reported.

"A decision has been taken to form an interim government as soon as possible by dissolving parliament. The army will also take measures to normalise the prevailing anarchic situation," the president said.

Sheikh Hasina, who resigned as Bangladesh's prime minister and fled the country on Monday following weeks of protests, did not want to leave at all but did so on the family's insistence, his US-based son and former Chief Advisor Sajeeb Wajed Joy told NDTV. Read here

West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose on Monday asserted that India's border with Bangladesh was secure amid the turmoil in the neighbouring country, and urged people to not pay attention to any rumours.

Mr Bose also constituted a "watchdog panel" that could be contacted round the clock to clarify any disinformation, he said.

"The governor assured that our borders (with Bangladesh) are secure. There is no need for panic. Beware of rumour mongers. Bengal is behind the Government of India, which is taking strong and effective steps to protect the borders," a Raj Bhavan official said.

"The Raj Bhavan has put in place a high-power watchdog committee which can be contacted for any clarification against disinformation. Strict action will be taken against those who spread rumours and misleading information," he said.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday urged calm in Bangladesh after the resignation and departure of prime minister Sheikh Hasina, and highlighted the need for a "peaceful, orderly and democratic transition," his spokesman said. 

Guterres "stands in full solidarity with the people of Bangladesh and calls for the full respect of their human rights," said the spokesman, Farhan Haq. 

"He continues to underscore the need for a full, independent, impartial and transparent investigation into all acts of violence."

The United States called Monday for all sides to avoid violence in Bangladesh, where long-ruling prime minister Sheikh Hasina fled following protests.

"We urge all parties to refrain from further violence. Too many lives have been lost over the course of the past several weeks, and we urge calm and restraint in the days ahead," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters.

"We welcome the announcement of an interim government and urge any transition be conducted in accordance with Bangladesh's laws," he said.

Miller said the United States was "deeply saddened about the reports of human rights abuses, casualties and injuries over the weekend and past weeks."

Britain on Monday called for "swift action" to restore democracy in Bangladesh even as reports of ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina seeking UK asylum emerged from India, where she arrived after fleeing Dhaka amid violent protests.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's official spokesperson told reporters during a briefing at 10 Downing Street that he was "deeply saddened" by the violence in Bangladesh in recent weeks.

It came as crowds gathered in the heavily British Bangladeshi hub of east London waving the country's flag in celebration of Hasina's downfall.

"We hope that swift action is taken to ensure that democracy prevails and accelerate the process towards peace and security for people in Bangladesh," Starmer's spokesperson said in response to a question on the situation in Bangladesh.

Nepal on Monday stepped up security at its border with India following ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in Bangladesh, fearing a potential infiltration of citizens from the violence-hit country.

The Ministry of Home Affairs instructed security agencies to adopt high alertness along the border to prevent unauthorised entry through international border areas, police said.

According to the police, the Home Ministry directed the security personnel deployed for border security to take extra precautions to prevent such infiltration.

"All security personnel deployed in the border areas have been instructed through circulars to closely monitor and take measures against potential illegal entries and activities from third countries," said a senior official.

They have been instructed to remain high on alert from Kakarbhitta in the East to Lumbini in the West, the official said.

Following turmoil in Bangladesh, the Assam government on Monday issued "high alert" to all its districts sharing border with the neighbouring country, a senior official said.

Assam's Karimganj, Cachar, Dhubri and South Salmara-Mankachar districts share 267.5 km of international border with Bangladesh.

"We have alerted all the border districts to be on high alert. We have asked the District Commissioners and Superintendents of Police to personally monitor the border situation," the official told PTI.

The Cabinet Committee on Security met at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's official residence this evening amid the turmoil in neighbouring Bangladesh - where its Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled the country amid massive protests over job quotas. Read here

Bangladesh curfew to end at dawn Tuesday, schools and businesses to reopen: Army

Bangladeshi President Mohammed Shahabuddin on Monday ordered the release of jailed former prime minister and key opposition leader Khaleda Zia, hours after her arch-rival Sheikh Hasina was ousted and the military took power.

The president's press team said in a statement that a meeting led by Shahabuddin had "decided unanimously to free Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia immediately".

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi met External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in Parliament House on Monday and discussed the development in Bangladesh, Congress sources said.

Sheikh Hasina has resigned as Bangladesh prime minister and an interim government is taking over, Army Chief General Waqar-uz-Zaman announced in Dhaka on Monday, in a dramatic development amid massive anti-government protests that claimed more than 100 lives in the last two days.

Sheikh Hasina landed at the Hindon airbase near Ghaziabad on her way to London, diplomatic sources said.

"Rahul Gandhi met S Jaishankar on the sidelines in the Lok Sabha, Parliament House complex, and discussed the recent developments in Bangladesh," a Congress source said.

An unruly mob on Monday damaged the Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre (IGCC) and the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum located at the Dhanmondi area in the Bangladesh capital, witnesses said.

The protesters on Monday afternoon set fire to several key locations in Dhaka, including Bangabandhu Bhaban, also known as the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum, at Dhanmondi 32, the Dhaka Tribune newspaper reported. Read here

Hours after Sheikh Hasina resigned as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh amid the growing unrest, her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy has ruled out any political comeback for her. Mr Joy said Sheikh Hasina is "deeply disappointed" by the uprising against her leadership, despite her efforts to transform Bangladesh.

In an interview with the BBC World Service's Newshour program, he said Sheikh Hasina had been contemplating resignation since Sunday.

''She has turned Bangladesh around. When she took over power it was considered a failing state. It was a poor country. Until today it was considered one of the rising tigers of Asia,'' he told the BBC. 

Tipra Motha supremo Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma on Monday said Union Home Minister Amit Shah assured him that infiltration would not be allowed from Bangladesh which is going through turmoil.

The Tipra Motha, a tribal-based party, is a constituent of the ruling BJP-led alliance in Tripura.

"Spoken to the Hon Home minister @AmitShah who has assured all that the borders of India are well protected and no illegal influx will be allowed. He is monitoring the situation and asked our forces to remain vigil on the borders," Mr Debbarma said in a Facebook post.

The Border Security Force (BSF) on Monday issued a "high alert" across all its formations along the 4,096-km India-Bangladesh border in the wake of the developments in the neighbouring country, officials said in Delhi.

"Trust the indigenous people to protect our boundaries, secure our borders. Internal security of India is threatened especially in the Northeast when Bangladesh is unstable," Mr Debbarma said.

At least 56 people were killed during violent unrest in Bangladesh on Monday as the prime minister was ousted, police and doctors said, updating an earlier count.

At least 44 of the dead were brought to the Dhaka Medical College Hospital, an AFP correspondent said, reporting all had bullet wounds. Police said 11 others were killed elsewhere in the capital, and another in the port city of Chittagong.

Bangladesh's anti-discrimination movement coordinators on Monday called on students to ensure that no one gets an opportunity to "loot" in the situation arising in the country after the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, urging them to protest peacefully till the desired goal is achieved.

The students' protests in Bangladesh started last month against a controversial job quota scheme and later turned into an anti-government agitation.

Earlier in the day, Army chief General Waqar-uz-Zaman announced that Hasina had resigned and an interim government was being formed.

He urged protesters to end the violence and vowed "justice" for all the people.

Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong on Monday said the state government has decided to impose a curfew along the international border with Bangladesh, amid the unrest in the neighbouring country.

The curfew along over 444 km of the boundary stretch will be applicable from 6 pm to 6 am daily until further notice, he said.

The decision was taken during an urgent meeting with Border Security Force (BSF) personnel and the Meghalaya Police.

A Dhaka-bound IndiGo flight from Chennai was diverted to Kolkata following the unrest in Bangladesh and the closure of the airport in its capital on Monday, an official said here.

The flight landed at Kolkata at 4.56pm and left for Chennai after refuelling.

Kolkata airport received a message from the Dhaka airport in the afternoon that it would be closed till 22.30 pm, according to another official.

Flight 6E 1113 with 81 passengers on board was diverted to the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata due to unrest in Dhaka, an Airports Authorities of India (AAI) official said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar about the violence in neighbouring Bangladesh - in which over 300 have died so far - and the resignation of former PM Sheikh Hasina and the fall of her government.

#6ETravelAdvisory : In view of the ongoing situation in #Dhaka, all flights scheduled for tomorrow have unfortunately been cancelled. We understand that this may cause significant inconvenience and disruption to your travel plans and we sincerely regret this development.

— IndiGo (@IndiGo6E) August 5, 2024

NSA Ajit Doval received former Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina at the Hindon airbase and received her. 

Protesters lounging on a bed and clicking selfies were among many visuals, being labelled as from inside the Bangladesh Prime Minister's official residence, which went viral online after Sheikh Hasina resigned and left her country. 

However, it turns out the visuals are two years old and show a scene from Sri Lanka President's palace. Read here

Sheikh Hasina, 77, feted chief of the Awami League and three-time Prime Minister of Bangladesh, stepped down today amid a 45-minute ultimatum of the army and took  a flight out of the violence-torn nation for an unknown destination. It would probably be familiar territory for a leader who started her political journey with an exile after the assassination of her father by officers of the Bangladesh army. Read here

Bangladesh Parliament has been taken over by the mob and there is total anarchy on the streets of Dhaka. 

IMPORTANT UPDATE
In view of the emerging situation in Bangladesh, we have cancelled the scheduled operation of our flights to and from Dhaka with immediate effect. We are continuously monitoring the situation and are extending support to our passengers with confirmed bookings…

— Air India (@airindia) August 5, 2024

Local media in Bangladesh reported on Monday that "thousands of protesters" have vandalised the residence of the country's Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal in Dhanmondi, an upscale area in Dhaka, following the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

"Witnesses reported that thousands of protesters broke through the entrance and entered the minister's residence. Smoke was billowing from inside the house, and vandalism was taking place within the premises," Dhaka Tribune reported.

Former Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina has landed at Hindon Air Base in a C-130 transport aircraft. The aircraft will be parked near the Indian Air Force's C-17 and C-130J Super Hercules aircraft hangars. 

The aircraft movement was monitored by Indian Air Force and security agencies from its entry into Indian airspace to Hindon airbase in Ghaziabad: ANI quoting Sources

Dhaka Airport will remain closed till 10.30 pm amid massive Bangladesh protests. Due to unrest in Dhaka, the aircraft carrying Sheikh Hasina has been diverted to Kolkata.

The services of Kolkata-Dhaka-Kolkata Maitree Express will remain cancelled on Tuesday, the Eastern Railway said, citing a message from the authorities concerned in Bangladesh.

The services of Maitree Express, which has not been operational since July 19, will remain suspended on August 6, the ER said in a statement.

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned on Monday amid massive protests against her government that claimed more than 100 lives in the last two days.

An interim government is taking over, Bangladesh Army Chief General Waqar-uz-Zaman announced on Monday.

The operations of the bi-weekly Kolkata-Khulna-Kolkata Bandhan Express have also remained cancelled since July 21 following large-scale violent protests.

Indian Railways has suspended the trains operations to Bangladesh.

The Delhi Police has beefed up security at the Bangladesh High Commission in Chanakyapuri here in the wake of developments in the neighbouring country, an officer said on Monday.

Police have also made tightened security outside the Indira Gandhi International Airport, in case Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina lands in the national capital.

Hasina has resigned and an interim government is taking over, Bangladesh Army Chief General Waqar-uz-Zaman announced on Monday.

Amid the ongoing unrest in neighbouring Bangladesh, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday appealed to the people of the state to maintain peace and avoid provocation.

Declining to comment on developments in Bangladesh, the chief minister said it is a matter for the Ministry of External Affairs to respond.

"I would appeal to all citizens of West Bengal to maintain peace and avoid all forms of provocation," Ms Banerjee told reporters at the West Bengal assembly.

"Whatever decision the Centre takes on this issue, we will abide by it," she said.

#WATCH | Delhi: On the political crisis in Bangladesh, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi says, "It is a very sad development, especially seeing how Bangladesh was heading towards development and now it is headed towards anarchy. As immediate neighbours, India should be… pic.twitter.com/ozQI750B7k

— ANI (@ANI) August 5, 2024

Shortly after Sheikh Hasina resigned as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh and fled the country, General Waker-Uz-Zaman, the Chief of Army Staff, announced that he would form the interim government. With the world's cameras pointing at him, he stood in front of a podium stating, "I am taking full responsibility."

The 76-year-old Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled Ganabhaban, the palatial residence of the Bangladeshi PM while protesters stormed its premises. Read here

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned today and left the country following more than a month of deadly anti-government protests. Army chief General Waker-Us-Zaman said that an interim government would be formed.

The 76-year-old leader is said to have flown in a Bangladesh military aircraft with her sister, reports said.

Footage from airline tracker Flight Radar showed an aircraft of Bangladesh Air Force - Lockheed C-130J Hercules - flying over India. The plane was seen flying over Jharkhand. Read here

#WATCH | Delhi: On political crisis in Bangladesh, former Foreign Secretary and ex-Ambassador to Bangladesh, Harsh Vardhan Shringla says, "...I would also look at it as an economic factor and opportunists - whether it is the Opposition BNT or Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami...They… pic.twitter.com/ymJeoBlMpK

— ANI (@ANI) August 5, 2024

Thousands of Bangladeshi protesters defied curfew and stormed the Prime Minister's palace in capital Dhaka after reports surfaced that Sheikh Hasina has resigned and left the country. Read here

#WATCH | On reports of Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina leaving official residence in Dhaka, Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty, Former Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh says, "This pressure and the demonstrations were mounting. Clearly, the government there was under pressure. The Army… pic.twitter.com/8IMeKffpLC

— ANI (@ANI) August 5, 2024

Public sector LIC on Monday said its office in Bangladesh will remain closed till August 7, reported news agency PTI. 

In a regulatory filing, LIC said, "The office of LIC of Bangladesh Ltd will remain closed during the period from August 05, 2024 to August 07, 2024, due to the prevailing socio-political situation in Bangladesh." The government of Bangladesh has declared a curfew for 3 days from August 05, 2024, to August 07, 2024, LIC said

Airport Director Agartala airport has denied about any Helicopter landing at Agartala Airport.

End violence, will meet your demands, said Bangladesh's army chief Waker-Uz-Zaman Monday to protesters, adding that he will form an interim government after prime minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled the capital in the face of overwhelming protests. Read here

Sheikh Hasina once helped rescue Bangladesh from military rule, but her time in power has seen the mass arrest of her political opponents and human rights sanctions against her security forces.

Since July, the autocratic premier has faced mass protests that began as university student-led rallies against civil service job quotas, but which have morphed into some of the worst unrest of her 15-year tenure, with opponents demanding she step down. Read here

The son of Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday urged the country's security forces to block any takeover from her rule as hundreds of thousands of protesters demanded she quit. 

"Your duty is to keep our people safe and our country safe and to uphold the constitution," US-based Sajeeb Wazed Joy said in a post on Facebook. Read here

Bangladesh's army chief Waker-Uz-Zaman said Monday he will form an interim government after the prime minister resigned and fled the capital in the face of overwhelming protests.

"We will form an interim government," Waker said in a broadcast to the nation on state television, adding Sheikh Hasina had resigned.

The Border Security Force (BSF) on Monday issued a "high alert" across all its formations along the 4,096-km India-Bangladesh border in the wake of the developments in the neighbouring country, officials said.

BSF director general (acting) Daljit Singh Chawdhary and other senior commanders have landed in Kolkata to review the security situation, they said.

The force has directed all its field commanders to be "on ground" and "deploy all personnel on border duty immediately", a senior officer told PTI.

The leaves of all the personnel posted along the Bangladesh border were cancelled in the last few weeks after Bangladesh witnessed massive protests and now all units have been asked to "acquire an all alert posture", he said.

In a press briefing, Bangladesh Army said, ''Business will continue as usual and interim government will be formed by army. The armed forces will take all decisions. I take all responsibility.''

Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled the capital by helicopter on Monday without time to prepare as vast crowds of angry protesters demanded she quit, a source close to her told AFP.

"Her security team asked her leave, she did not find any time to prepare", the source said, adding she left first by motorcade but then was flown out, without saying her destination. "She was later evacuated on a helicopter." 

Bangladesh Army had given an ultimatum of 45 minutes to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina 45 to resign from her post, reports suggest.

🔴LIVE: Sheikh Hasina Flees Amid Clashes, Bangladesh Protesters Storm PM's Palace⤵️ #BangladeshViolence #BangladeshProtest https://t.co/9C3x3mnjXw

— NDTV (@ndtv) August 5, 2024

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has resigned and left the country on Monday, reported Reuters, as more people were killed in some of the worst violence since the birth of the South Asian nation more than five decades ago.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has left Bangladesh in the face of massive protests demanding her resignation. She and her sister Rehana have left in a military helicopter and are headed to West Bengal, reports Prothom Alo citing sources.

Protesters have stormed the Bangladesh prime minister's palace in Dhaka, news agency AFP reported citing TV footage. Bangladesh's Channel 24 broadcast images of crowds running into the premier's official residence in the capital, waving to the camera as they celebrated. Sheikh Hasina has already flee the capital city in the face of mass protests demanding her resignation, according to a source close to her. 

A senior advisor to Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has told AFP that the resignation of the embattled leader was a "possibility" after being questioned as to whether she would quit. "The situation is such that this is a possibility, but I don't know how it will happen," the aide close to the premier said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The son of Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has urged the country's security forces to block any takeover from her rule as hundreds of thousands of protesters demanded she quit. "Your duty is to keep our people safe and our country safe and to uphold the constitution," US-based Sajeeb Wazed Joy said in a post on Facebook. "It means don't allow any unelected government to come in power for one minute, it is your duty."

Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has left the capital Dhaka in the face of mass protests demanding her resignation, a source close to the embattled leader told AFP on Monday. "She and her sister have left Ganabhaban (the premier's official residence) for a safer place," the source told AFP. "She wanted to record a speech. But she could not get an opportunity to do that."