In a video capturing the final moments of Sheikh Hasina in Bangladesh, two suitcases and the former Prime Minister herself are seen being hurriedly loaded into a car. The footage, taken on August 5, shows the ousted leader departing Bangladesh under tense circumstances, heading to seek refuge in India. Now, 100 days later, Hasina remains in India, her stay marked by secrecy and high security.
Reports suggest that Sheikh Hasina is staying in a heavily-guarded bungalow in Delhi, acting as a government-designated safe house. Security arrangements are comprehensive, with the National Security Guard (NSG) commandos and the elite Garud unit of the Indian Air Force ensuring her safety.
Delhi is not new to Hasina; she and her sister, Sheikh Rehana, found refuge in India decades ago after their father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Bangladesh’s founding leader, was assassinated in 1975. While on holiday abroad, the sisters escaped the military coup that claimed the lives of most of their family members. From 1975 to 1981, Hasina lived under an assumed identity in Pandara Road, Delhi, with her family. She returned to Bangladesh to take up a political struggle and eventually became Prime Minister.
In her time as Bangladesh’s leader, Hasina oversaw significant socio-economic improvements, notably lifting millions from poverty, largely through the booming garment industry. However, her critics allege that her government increasingly exhibited authoritarian tendencies, especially following her 2009 return to power. Growing popular discontent, fuelled by reports of rigged elections and heavy-handed responses to dissent, contributed to a surge in anti-government protests.
An anti-quota protest evolved into a wider call for her resignation, leading to escalating unrest and, ultimately, Hasina’s forced departure from Bangladesh. The August footage shows Hasina being escorted by car to a helicopter bound for India, her first destination being the Hindon Air Force base near Delhi, where she arrived in a C-130J Hercules aircraft. The Indian government afforded her all protocols appropriate for a Prime Minister or Head of State.
Sources informed that after a short stay at Hindon, Hasina was moved to Delhi’s Lutyens’ Bungalow Zone, an area reserved for high-profile dignitaries and government officials. It was first reported on September 18 that Hasina was in a safe house in Delhi and later in Lutyens’ Zone, where she has reportedly been residing for over two months.
Unverified sightings have placed Hasina walking with her entourage in Delhi’s Lodhi Gardens, though her movements remain tightly monitored. According to sources, her daughter, Saima Wazed Putul, is also staying with her. Putul, the World Health Organisation’s Regional Director for South-East Asia, has been based in Delhi since February.
On October 18, Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal issued an arrest warrant for Hasina on charges relating to alleged “crimes against humanity” during her government’s crackdown on protesters. Following this, the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus announced on November 10 that it would seek Interpol’s assistance to repatriate Hasina from India. Meanwhile, pro-Hasina demonstrations in Dhaka have erupted, met with strong resistance from the interim government.
The election of Donald Trump in the United States has added a new dimension to the political landscape, as he has previously criticised the Yunus-led government for attacks on Bangladesh’s Hindu community. How this will impact Hasina’s situation remains uncertain.
As her stay in Delhi reaches the 100-day mark, questions linger about how much longer Sheikh Hasina will remain in exile. The streets and parks of Delhi, where she once sought refuge decades ago, now serve as her home once again, in circumstances she likely never imagined.
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