EXCLUSIVE | With UK Not Keen, Sheikh Hasina Explores Other European Countries For Asylum, to Stay in India For Next Few Days

Former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina is open to moving to other European countries with the United Kingdom not forthcoming with a friendly welcome. According to sources, the UK is not open to giving her asylum and she is exploring other options while she stays in India.

Hasina is stationed at Hindon airbase and will remain there for next couple of days, sources said.

Reports say that her sister Rehana, who holds a UK citizenship, may leave early. Rehana is the younger daughter of ‘father of Bangladesh’ Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Sheikh Fazilatun Necha Mujib and the younger sister of Sheikh Hasina. Rehana’s daughter Tulip Siddiq is a member of the British Parliament for the Labor Party.

Sources have said that Hasina was asked to leave Dhaka by the Bangladesh Army after she resigned amid civil unrest in the country over the reservation system and other issues. India negotiated for a safe passage for Hasina. On Monday, she landed at Hindon airbase where facilities for long stay for high-level dignitaries are available.

At around 6:30 pm on Monday, 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 on Monday, India’s 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.

Sources said that two Rafale fighter aircraft from the 101 squadron from Hashimara air base in West Bengal were airborne over Bihar and Jharkhand to provide safety to Hasina’s jet aircraft. IAF and Army chiefs Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari and Gen Upendra Dwivedi were monitoring the situation very closely, sources added.

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