Mohammad Yunus Expressed Displeasure on India's Stance on Bangladesh's Violent Protests

The student protests in Bangladesh demanding the abolition of reservation in government jobs have taken a very fierce form. At least 100 people were killed and hundreds injured last Sunday in the violence that erupted between protesting students and government supporters demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Bangladeshi economist and Nobel laureate Mohammad Yunus has expressed concern over the situation in the country. Expressing displeasure over India's response to the protests, he has said that the turmoil in Bangladesh can also spread to neighboring countries.

In a conversation with ‘The Indian Express’ Yunus said, “When India says this is an internal matter, I feel sad. If brother's house is on fire, how can I say that it is an internal matter? There is a much richer vocabulary in diplomacy than calling it our internal matter.”

Just last month, India refused to comment on the violent protests against reservation in jobs in Bangladesh. The Spokesperson to the Foreign Ministry Randhir Jaiswal said during a media briefing, ‘We consider it an internal matter of Bangladesh’.

Muhammad Yunus said that if there is unrest in Bangladesh, where 17 crore people conflict, youth are being killed, law and order are deteriorating, then it is clear that the situation will not be limited to the borders of Bangladesh, it will also affect the neighboring countries.

Yunus urged India to support democratic processes in Bangladesh and criticized the lack of transparency in elections. He praised India's successful elections and expressed grief over India's lack of support in Bangladesh. He plans to discuss these issues with the Indian government.

The protests against reservations last month have increased the difficulties of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, so there is a demand for her resignation. On Sunday itself, 100 people were killed in this violent protest, including 14 police officers, as clashes with sticks and knives turned deadly and security forces opened fire. The total number of deaths has reached at least 283 so far since the protests started in July. The Ministry of External Affairs has advised Indian citizens living in Bangladesh to be cautious. The Ministry of External Affairs has also advised not to travel to Bangladesh until further orders.