India prioritises 'hospitality' over 'shelter' for Hasina

India currently has no plans to offer ousted Bangladeshi prime minister Sheikh Hasina political asylum. 

For now, though, India is focused on providing "hospitality" to Sheikh Hasina, not "shelter" as she has not applied for asylum. 

Should the need arise in the future, Indian officials are confident that political consensus on granting her asylum could be easily achieved, reports Shubhajyoti Ghosh of BBC Bangla Service citing senior officials in New Delhi. 

After nearly two and a half months since her ousting from Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina arrived in Delhi on a military plane. Since then, she has remained completely out of public view—no photos have surfaced, and although audio clips of alleged phone conversations have been leaked, there's no proof they contain her voice. 

Since her arrival in India, Sheikh Hasina has practically vanished from the public eye.

The Indian government has maintained tight secrecy regarding her stay. 

Spokespersons, ministers, and policymakers have not addressed her presence, or that of her sister, Sheikh Rehana, in any official capacity—neither in press conferences nor interviews. 

However, on October 17, the Indian government indirectly confirmed that she is still in India, refuting rumours that she had left for the UAE or another Middle Eastern country.

While India has successfully kept Sheikh Hasina’s stay confidential, it remains unclear how long she will remain in the country. 

According to a senior government official in Delhi, “It’s going to be a long haul,” indicating that the Indian government is preparing for the possibility of her extended stay.

This raises the question: Is India considering offering political asylum to Sheikh Hasina, similar to how it granted asylum to figures like the Dalai Lama and the family of Afghan President Mohammad Najibullah? 

In conversations with officials in Delhi, the BBC learned that, as of now, India views Sheikh Hasina as a "guest under compulsion." The Indian government understands that she fled to India due to threats to her safety in Bangladesh. As a long-time friend of the country, she will be treated with respect, and there is no immediate issue with her staying in India for an extended period.