India knew of anti-Hasina wave but unable to interfere: Jaishankar tells The Hindu

India was aware of the growing anti-Sheikh Hasina wave in Bangladesh ahead of the violent ousting of the former prime minister on August 5, last year, The Hindu reports quoting Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar's statement to the Consultative Committee on External Affairs on Saturday (March 22).

However, India was not in a position to do much as it lacked the necessary leverage over Hasina and could do no more than offer advice, Jaishankar reportedly told the first meeting of the committee in 2025.

Jaishankar indicated that India — like a few other leading stakeholders — was aware of the tumultuous situation inside Bangladesh, according to The Hindu report.

In this regard, he cited the UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk's recent remarks about the UN warning the Bangladesh army against a confrontation with unarmed protesters during the anti-Hasina demonstrations, as such an action would prompt the UN to ban the army from peacekeeping operations, the report said.

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