NEW DEHLI: India has detained nearly a dozen Bangladeshi nationals who attempted to cross the border as they fled escalating violence and political unrest following the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Border officials reported on Monday that hundreds more are gathered along the frontier, pleading for entry into India. Sheikh Hasina, who resigned abruptly on August 5 after 15 years in power, fled to India amid rising violence targeting minority communities in Bangladesh.
Hindus, who represent the largest minority group and are a key support base for Hasina’s Awami League, have been particularly affected, with reports of widespread attacks on their homes, temples, and businesses. India’s Border Security Force (BSF) has arrested 11 Bangladeshis since Sunday as they attempted to cross into West Bengal. BSF deputy inspector general Amit Kumar Tyagi stated that several hundred more remain stranded in no-man’s land along the border, seeking refuge. The 4,000-kilometre (2,485-mile) border between India and Bangladesh is largely unfenced.
The situation has also seen four Bangladeshis being “repelled” from Assam, according to the state’s chief minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma. The fall of Hasina has heightened security concerns in India, given her administration’s role in balancing relations with both India and China. India’s Home Minister, Amit Shah, announced the formation of a committee to monitor the situation and ensure the safety of Indian nationals, Hindus, and other minorities in Bangladesh. Meanwhile, Bangladesh’s interim government, led by Muhammad Yunus, has expressed concern over the attacks on minorities and pledged to address the situation urgently.
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