Sheikh Hasina likely to stay in India until UK grants asylum
Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled the country following her resignation on Monday, is reported to remain in India until granted a political asylum in a third country, CNN-News18 on Monday reported quoting its sources.
Hasina, 76, who fled Bangladesh following month long massive and deadly anti-government protests across the country, is seeking an asylum in the UK. Hasina’s sister Rehana, who hold a UK citizenship, is also accompanying the embattled leader. According to the sources, no confirmation from the UK regarding political asylum for Hasina has been received so far.
Rehana is the younger daughter of father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib and the younger sister of Sheikh Hasina. Rehana’s daughter Tulip Siddiq is a member of the British Parliament for the Labor Party.
Hasina lands in India, meets NSA Doval
At around 6:30 pm (Indian local time), Bangladesh Air Force’s C-130 transport aircraft AJAX1413 carrying Hasina and her sister reached Ghaziabad’s Hindon Air Base, news agency ANI said. “The aircraft movement was monitored by Indian Air Force and security agencies from its entry into Indian airspace to Hindon airbase in Ghaziabad,” it said.
Later, India National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval along with and senior military officials met the embattled leader at the airbase and assured full security to her. The Indian Air Force and other security agencies are providing security to Hasina.
From here, the embattled prime minister would be taken to a safe place in the national capital. It is reported that she would fly to London.
Earlier it was reported that Hasina after landing in India, would take a commercial flight to London, but there has been no response from UK on her stay.
India on alert
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been briefed on the situation in Bangladesh by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, who is the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, has also spoken to Jaishankar. The two spoke briefly on the sidelines of the Parliament, Congress said.
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. Indian Railways has stopped all trains to Bangladesh and airlines including, Air India have cancelled the flight opeartions to Dhaka.
Hasina’s reign over in Bangladesh
Sheikh Hasina, a five-term prime minister of Bangladesh, resigned on Monday owing to the massive unrest in the country over the controversial quota system that reserves 30 per cent of the government jobs for the families of veterans who fought the 1971 liberation war.
Born to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the principal orchestrator of Bangladesh’s independence, Hasina has been at the forefront of the movement for democracy in Bangladesh. On August 15, 1975, Hasina’s father, mother, and three brothers were assassinated in their home by several military officers. Hasina, who was out of the country then, spent six years in exile.
In 1981, Hasina returned to Bangladesh and became an advocate of democracy. After becoming the leader of the opposition in the Bangladesh parliament, Hasina spoke out against military rule and initiated measures to secure human rights for all citizens.
She first became the prime minister in 1996. Ever since Hasina took over as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, her rule has witnessed protests by the Opposition that often turned violent. Hasina was also accused of suppressing the opposition ahead of the January 2024 general elections. According to the BNP, more than 20,000 of its leaders, members, and supporters were arrested since October 2023.
What’s next in Bangladesh?
Moments after Hasina resigned from her as country’s prime minister and fled the country on Monday, Bangladesh’s Army chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman took over the administration and announced the formation of an interim government.
In a television address the General confirmed Hasina’s resignation and took the responsibility of the government.
“I am taking full responsibility. “The country has suffered a lot. The economy has been hit, many people have been killed - it is time to stop the violence. I hope after my speech, the situation will improve,” he said.
Dressed in military fatigues and cap, he said, “We will form an interim government.”
The Army chief said he had met political leaders and told them the Army would take over responsibility for law and order. As protests spiralled across the country, he said he had asked both Army and police not to fire any shots.
What happened in Bangladesh?
Bangladesh has been marred by protests and violence that began last month after student groups demanded scrapping of a controversial quota system in government jobs. Bangladeshis have been protesting against 30 per cent quota for government jobs given to families of the 1971 war veterans. Owing to violence, the Supreme Court had decided to reduce the quota to 5 per cent. However, that didn’t help end the protests.
According to Reuters, nearly 250 people have been killed in the violence so far.
