From Hansal Mehta to Sonam Kapoor, Bollywood reacts to Sheikh Hasina's arrival in India amid Bangladesh protests
Bollywood stars including Hansal Mehta, Kangana Ranaut and Sonam Kapoor have reacted to the situation of crisis in Bangladesh which led former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to resign and flee the country amid violent student protests.
Bangladesh is engulfed in protests and violence that began last month after students protested over the controversial quota system that reserves 30 percent jobs in government jobs for families of veterans who fought in the 1971 liberation war and demanded it to be scrapped. The protests escalated into a campaign and sought the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who was in power for 15 years and had recently swept to a fourth straight term in January. The violence forced her to resign and flee the country. Amid the violent protests, here's what Bollywood celebrities Hansal Mehta, Kangana Ranaut and Sonam Kapoor have to say about the situation in the neighbouring country.
Hansal Mehta, Kangana Ranaut and Sonam Kapoor react to Bangladesh protests
Hansal Mehta
In his long post on X (formerly called Twitter), Scam 1992 fame director Hansal Mehta criticised Sheikh Hasina's authoritarian rule as he recalled banning of his movie Faraaz in Bangladesh. The film's release was delayed for 18 months due to pressure and threats from officials, litigation, and police protection due to perceived threats. Hansal Mehta said that the government aimed to suppress the film for portraying them negatively, attempting to cover up their authoritarian rule and thus prevent criticism.
Seeing the events unfold in Bangladesh reminds me of the Faraaz release saga. It is streaming globally on Netflix except in Bangladesh where it has been banned.
¡ª Hansal Mehta (@mehtahansal) August 5, 2024
The release of ¡®Faraaz¡¯ based on the Holey Artisan Bakery, Dhaka attack of 2016 was sought to be stalled for nearly¡ pic.twitter.com/dQIP9pF9P1
Kangana Ranaut
Kangana Ranaut said that she felt "honoured and flattered that honourable Prime Minister of Bangladesh feels safe in Bharat" and at the same time she also opined "No one is safe in Muslim countries not even Muslims themselves."
Bharat is the original motherland of all Islamic Republics around us. We are honoured and flattered that honourable Prime Minister of Bangladesh feels safe in Bharat but all those who live in India and keep asking why Hindu Rashtra? Why Ram Rajya? Well it is evident why!!!
¡ª Kangana Ranaut (@KanganaTeam) August 5, 2024
No¡ https://t.co/wMqlpBquUo
Sonam Kapoor
Sonam Kapoor shared a post which said that 66 people died in a single day during the protests in Bangladesh and wrote, "This is terrible. Let us all pray for Bangladeshi people."
Meanwhile, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has informed an all-party meeting on Aug 6 that India has offered support to former Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina, who arrived in the country on the evening of Aug 5. It is said that she has been given time to time to determine her next steps, according to sources. During a briefing with political party leaders at Parliament House, Jaishankar stated that India is in contact with the Bangladesh Army to ensure the safety of over 10,000 Indian students in the country, reports PTI.
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Garima Satija leads the Entertainment vertical of Indiatimes. A storyteller at heart who enjoys the thrill of writing, she is sometimes found daydreaming about living the lives of movie characters. Also, she hates talking about herself in the third person.
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