Dhaka, Oct 13 (V7N): India was aware of the political developments in Bangladesh prior to the events of August 5, according to Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty, former Indian high commissioner to Bangladesh and former special secretary of India's Ministry of External Affairs.

In an interview with The Indian Express, Pinak Ranjan confirmed that India had prior knowledge, stating, "Of course, we knew." However, he questioned whether Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina foresaw her downfall, expressing doubt that she did. "My sense is that she didn't. Perhaps after 15 years in power, you start believing everything is under control," said the former diplomat.

Pinak Ranjan, who served as the high commissioner in Dhaka from 2007 to 2009, witnessed Bangladesh's 1/11 political shift and had earlier served as deputy high commissioner in Dhaka from 1999 to 2002.

Reflecting on the protests that erupted following the Supreme Court's decision to reduce the quota to 7%, Pinak Ranjan believed the unrest should have subsided after the judgment. However, he noted that over 300 people died during these agitations, and protesters came forward with a nine-point demand, including the resignation of ministers and police officials.

Pinak Ranjan suggested that both foreign and internal influences might have played a role in the situation. "Since Hasina refused to remove her ministers, the unrest escalated, backed by a well-organized force," he claimed.

Discussing why the situation became so politically charged, with calls for the prime minister's resignation and a march to Dhaka, the former high commissioner remarked that it was ultimately the military's decision not to intervene that sealed her fate. "The army decided they wouldn't protect her, nor would they fire on the protesters," he added.

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