West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee urged the people of the state to maintain peace amid the ongoing unrest and political changes in Bangladesh. She stated that the West Bengal government would support any decision made by the Narendra Modi-led central government on this matter.
“I appeal to the people of Bengal to remain calm and not to believe in rumors. This is an issue between two countries, and we will back whatever decision the central government makes,” Banerjee was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
Her statement came as reports surfaced that Sheikh Hasina, who resigned as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh on Monday, arrived in Agartala, Tripura, after facing massive protests in her country.
India shares a 4,096.7 km-long border with Bangladesh, making it the longest border India has with any neighboring country.
Bangladesh has been experiencing month-long protests, which turned violent last month. According to news agency AFP, at least 300 people have died in the anti-government protests so far.
The protests in Bangladesh were driven by demands for reforming the country’s civil service job quota system. The controversial system reserved jobs for specific groups, including descendants of those who fought in the 1971 War of Independence against Pakistan.
Protesters called for Sheikh Hasina’s resignation over the quota system controversy, despite the Supreme Court reducing the disputed reservations.
In 2018, the Bangladesh government suspended the job quotas following mass student protests. However, in June, Bangladesh’s High Court reversed that decision and reinstated the quotas after petitions were filed by relatives of 1971 war veterans.
