Amidst massive protests in Bangladesh against the “controversial,” government quota system, Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina has resigned and fled the country to neighboring India.
At 76, Hasina, the longest serving Prime Minister in the country’s history, and daughter of the founding father and first President of Bangladesh, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, escaped with her sister in a military helicopter. Angry protestors destroyed the statute of Mujibur Rahman, looted Hasina’s official residence, and vandalized Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Memorial Museum. The protestors also ransacked the Parliament of Bangladesh.
India granted her safe passage, and India’s National Security Advisor, Ajit Doval met Hasina at the Hindon Airbase in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, upon her arrival.
She will stay in India until formalities for her political asylum in the United Kingdom is arranged.
India’s Foreign Minister S Jaishankar, who briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the volatile situation in Dhaka was scheduled to meet Hasina and discuss with her about the developing situation. PM Modi has maintained a good relationship with Hasina and her Awami League party.
In Dhaka, Army Chief General Waqar-uz-Zaman ordered the army and police authorities not to fire at protestors and called for peace. An interim government will be formed in Bangladesh following her exit.
Hasina – criticized as an “authoritarian” leader – served as Prime Minister from 1996-2001, and 2009-2024.
India’s Border Security Force has been alerted due to Bangladesh’s shared border with India along West Bengal, Assam, Tripura, Mizoram, and Meghalaya.
