"What happened in Bangladesh has raised our concerns...": Iranian envoy hopes for return of normalcy in country
Aug 06, 2024
New Delhi [India], August 6 : Amid ongoing unrest in Bangladesh, Iran's Ambassador to India, Iraj Elahi said that whatever has happened in the country has raised Tehran's concerns about the lives of the people, as it shares traditional relations with Bangladesh.
He noted that lack of peace or stability in Bangladesh will affect all regions.
In an interview with ANI, the Iranian envoy said, "Bangladesh is an important country in the region. It is a big Muslim country. Iran has traditional relations with Bangladesh. What happened in Bangladesh has raised our concerns about the lives of people, this country's stability and the region's stability."
Ambassador Elahi expressed hope of normalcy returning soon to the violence-hit country.
He said, "If there is no peace or stability in Bangladesh, then it will affect all regions. We hope that very soon we will witness stability and the rule of law in Bangladesh."
Since last month, when protests against a government job quota turned fatal, more than 2,000 people have been jailed. The demonstrations quickly turned into a nationwide campaign for Hasina's resignation.
Earlier on Monday, General Waker-Uz-Zaman, in his remarks to the press said that an interim government would be formed and the deaths in the course of the weeks-long protests would be thoroughly investigated, reported Al Jazeera.
"I promise you all we will bring justice to all the murders and injustice. We request you to have faith in the army of the country. I take full responsibility, and I assure you to not get disheartened," the general had said.
The military also announced that on Tuesday, the curfew would be lifted at dawn and that businesses, companies, schools, and institutions would open at 6 a.m. (00:00 GMT).
People from all walks of life marched towards Chittagong, distributing sweets in celebration. After reports surfaced that Sheikh Hasina had departed from Bangladesh, people took to the streets to celebrate, Dhaka Tribune reported.
A joyous procession began at 3 pm (local time), spreading through Muradpur, Agrabad, Dewanhat, Chowkbazar, GEC, Sholshahar, Kazir Dewri, Jamalkhan, Bahaddarhat, and every part of the city, the report said.
Bangladesh is facing a fluid political situation with the country's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigning from her post in the wake of mounting protests. The protests, majorly by students demanding an end to a quota system for government jobs, took the shape of anti-government protests.
Bangladesh PM Hasina arrived in India on Monday evening after tendering her resignation in the wake of mounting protests in Dhaka.
It is not clear if the Bangladeshi Prime Minister will stay in Delhi or move to another location.
Meanwhile, in Dhaka, the leaders of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement have proposed an interim government led by Nobel Laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus, in a bid to address Bangladesh's ongoing challenge.
This announcement was made in a video message released early hours of Tuesday by key student leaders Nahid Islam, Asif Mahmud, and Abu Bakar Mazumdar. President Mohammed Shahabuddin on Monday night gave his nod to form an interim government to run the country.