India govt holds all-party meet on Bangladesh

The Indian government has held an all-party meeting to discuss the fall of Sheikh Hasina government and the Army’s takeover in Bangladesh amid violent protests.

Foreign Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday briefed the leaders of all parties about the situation in Bangladesh and the steps taken by the Indian government, reports NDTV.

Besides S Jaishankar, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju also attended the meeting.

Sheikh Hasina resigned on Monday and fled the country as vast crowds of angry protesters demanded her exit.

Shortly after Hasina resigned, Army chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman said the military will form an "interim government" and urged to protesters to stand down.

Hasina landed at the Hindon Air Force base in Uttar Pradesh's Ghaziabad, which is 30km from Delhi on Monday evening. She was received by India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken to S Jaishankar about the violence in Bangladesh - in which over 300 have died so far. There is no word yet Mr Modi will meet Hasina.

Sheikh Hasina is expected to leave for London later, sources told NDTV, where she may seek political asylum. However, there is no confirmation on whether the UK has offered asylum to her. 

India's Border Security Force is on high alert across the country's 4,096 km border with Bangladesh, with field commanders ordered to take "on ground" positions and be prepared for anything.

Sheikh Hasina had sought to quell nationwide protests against her government but she fled the country after fresh clashes on Sunday in which nearly 100 people were killed.

The anti-government rallies that began last month against civil service job quotas escalated into some of the worst unrest of Prime Minister Hasina's 15-year rule and shifted into wider calls for the 76-year-old to step down.