“India was aware of anti-Hasina wave but could not interfere”

India was aware of an anti-Sheikh Hasina wave building up in Bangladesh ahead of the violent overthrow of the former Prime Minister’s government on August 5, last year, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar informed the Consultative Committee on External Affairs on Saturday, according to The Hindu reports.

However, India was not in a position to do much as it lacked the necessary leverage over Ms. Hasina who could only be “advised”, he told Members of Parliament.

The Hindu has learnt that Jaishankar indicated that India — like a few other leading stakeholders — had been aware of the tumultuous situation inside Bangladesh.

In this regard, he mentioned the U.N. Human Rights Chief Volker Turk’s recent remarks about the U.N. warning the Bangladesh army against a confrontation with unarmed protesters during the anti-Hasina protests, that such a move would prompt the U.N. to ban the army from peacekeeping operations.

The Consultative Committee on External Affairs members met Mr. Jaishankar for a frank discussion on India’s foreign policy where the circumstances in the neighbourhood — especially in Bangladesh, Myanmar, Maldives, Sri Lanka and Pakistan — dominated.

Professor Yunus, who has hosted a series of international dignitaries, is on track to visit China next, where the two countries are expected to sign multiple agreements, including ones on aviation links that will increase connectivity between Chittagong and Dhaka and Chinese destinations.

Jaishankar highlighted the role of “external actors” in Bangladesh, and mentioned that China was “not an adversary but a competitor”._Agencies.