Bangladesh leader Sheikh Hasina met National Security Advisor Ajit Doval Monday evening after landing at the Hindon Air Force base in Uttar Pradesh's Ghaziabad - around 30 km from Delhi.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been briefed on the situation in Bangladesh by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. There is no word yet if Mr Modi will meet Mrs Hasina.
Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, who is the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, has also spoken to Mr Jaishankar. The two spoke briefly on the sidelines of the Parliament, his party said.
Hours earlier the 76-year-old five-time Prime Minister had been forced to resign from her position after more than 300 people died in violent protests over a quota for government jobs in that country.
Sheikh Hasina is expected to leave for London later, sources told NDTV, where she may seek political asylum. Sources told news agency ANI Sheikh Hasina's plane - a Bangladesh Air Force C-130 military transport - will be parked near the Indian Air Force's C-17 and C-130J Super Hercules aircraft hangars.
Sources said Mrs Hasina's plane is being refuelled for the flight to London.
India's Border Security Force is on high alert across the country's 4,096 km border with Bangladesh, with field commanders ordered to take "on ground" positions and be prepared for anything.
A 12-hour night-time curfew is in effect in Meghalaya.
Indian Railways has stopped all trains to Bangladesh and Air India has cancelled its two daily flights to Dhaka. IndiGo has suspended all flights for the next 30 hours; "In view of the situation in Dhaka, flights scheduled for tomorrow have been cancelled. We understand this may cause significant inconvenience and disruption to your travel plans, and we sincerely regret this development," the airline said.
#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
Vistara, which operates flights from Mumbai, has said it is monitoring the situation but the Tata Sons-owned airline has not announced any cancellations as yet.
Dhaka's Shahjalal International Airport had closed its operations for six hours, local media said.
Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Army, which gave Sheikh Hasina 45 minutes to resign after her government couldn't control the violence, has taken control. In a televised address Army chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman said the military will form an "interim government" and told protesters to stand down.
READ | Sheikh Hasina Quits After Bangladesh Army's 45-Min Notice: Top Developments
"There is a crisis. I have met Opposition leaders and we have decided to form an interim government to run this country. I take all responsibility and promise to protect your life and property. Your demands will be fulfilled. Please stop the violence," the Army chief said.
READ | Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina Quits, Army Takes Over Amid Massive Protests
Earlier today protesters broke into Gonobhaban - the Dhaka residence of the Prime Minister.
READ | Bangladesh Protesters Storm Sheikh Hasina's Palace Amid Violent Clashes
Local media estimated as many as 400,000 protesters were on the streets but it was impossible to verify the figure. Soldiers and police with armoured vehicles had barricaded routes to Ms Hasina's office with barbed wire, AFP reporters said, but vast crowds flooded the streets, tearing down barriers.
But by then the veteran politician had fled.
READ | Bangladesh Protesters Storm Sheikh Hasina's Palace Amid Violent Clashes
100 people were killed and over 1,000 injured in clashes that took place between police and protesters on Sunday alone. Since then the number of dead has crossed 300.
The protests began late last month over a quota system that reserves up to 30 per cent of government jobs for family members of veterans from Bangladesh's 1971 war against Pakistan.
READ | 300 Killed, Sheikh Hasina Flees: Violent Bangladesh Protests Explained
Since then they have escalated dramatically, particularly over the past few days, resulting in pitched battles between students, police, and counter-protesters. Shocking scenes have emerged of vehicles and buildings on fire and mobs rampaging through the streets.
The protests died down, briefly, after the Bangladesh Supreme Court cut the reservations to 5 per cent. But it flared back up after student leaders said the government had ignored some of their demands. This triggered demands for Sheikh Hasina to quit.
With input from agencies
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