Kathmandu: India's foreign minister, S. Jaishankar, expressed deep concerns on Tuesday regarding the law and order situation in neighboring Bangladesh after the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Jaishankar confirmed Hasina's presence in India, where she fled after protesters stormed her palace on Monday.

"We... will naturally remain deeply concerned till law and order is visibly restored," Jaishankar stated in parliament. He also mentioned that India has maintained regular contact with authorities in Dhaka over the past 24 hours. Hasina arrived at a military airbase near New Delhi via helicopter and had initially sought to travel to London. However, calls from the British government for a UN-led investigation into the violence in Bangladesh have complicated her plans.

China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs also expressed hope for the restoration of social stability in Bangladesh. "As a friendly neighbour and comprehensive strategic cooperative partner, China sincerely hopes that social stability can be restored in Bangladesh at an early date," a spokesperson said.

The political upheaval began when Bangladesh army chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman announced on state television that Hasina had resigned and that the military would form an interim government. Hasina's decision to resign reportedly came after a meeting with leaders of the security establishment.

India, which shares a border of more than 4,000 kilometers (2,485 miles) with Bangladesh, has instructed its border guarding forces to remain exceptionally alert in light of the situation.

Regional Worries

Hasina's ouster has also raised concerns in Sri Lanka, where it has drawn parallels to the turmoil that toppled Colombo's leader in 2022. Sri Lanka's government spokesman, Bandula Gunawardana, highlighted the similarities and emphasized the importance of protecting democracy. Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Ali Sabry expressed solidarity with Bangladesh, wishing its citizens the strength to overcome the challenges and emerge stronger.

The unrest in Bangladesh has led to widespread discussions on social media, with users comparing the storming of Hasina's palace to the ransacking of then-President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's official residence in Sri Lanka last year.