- Sheikh Hasina has relatives across Europe and she is expected to explore options for asylum in the continent, with reports claiming that she is in talks to move to Finland or Russia.
- A few reports in Bangladeshi media suggest that she is in talks with the UAE and Saudi governments for asylum there. Talks are in process but the countries in consideration have yet to respond.
The ex-prime minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina sought temporary asylum in India on Monday. She had briefed India that she would leave for London to seek political asylum, as her sister Sheikh Rehana and her niece and the member of parliament, Tulip Siddiq reside there.
The UK responded that ‘there is no provision for asylum’ and made it clear that it has no provision within the Immigration Rules to give refuge to someone who has to travel. The UK had stated that those who need international protection should claim asylum in the first safe country they reach, which would be the fastest route to safety. This unexpected rejection forced Sheikh Hasina to extend her stay in India and explore other options for safety.
The US had not openly declared its rejection but sources from the State Department have confirmed her rejection to enter US soil. The US had already questioned Bangladesh’s legitimacy in conducting elections along with the UN. The US had voiced concerns on how the elections were conducted, the US said it is ‘free nor fair’. This issue that the US had with Sheikh Hasina’s party, Awamy League, was already a pointer on the US’s stand on its government and Sheikh Hasina.
Sheikh Hasina has relatives across Europe and she is expected to explore options for asylum in the continent. The Business Standard reported that she is in talks to move to Finland or Russia. Russia has yet to give a public statement on this incident, but considering Russia’s standings with Bangladesh it is most likely, that she might receive asylum there. A few reports in Bangladeshi media suggest that she is in talks with the UAE and Saudi governments for asylum there. Talks are in process but the countries in consideration have yet to respond. Sheikh Hasina is set to leave India soon and the ministry has responded that the ex-prime minister is still in shock, after the unfortunate turn of events that forced her to resign.
The UK has already called for a UN-led investigation into the violence that has been happening in Bangladesh. If this investigation is conducted then, observers say that Sheikh Hasina would be held accountable to some degree and she could be charged for human rights violations during her tenure. This is the obvious reason why the UK doesn’t want to grant asylum to her. But the long-standing connections to her family make it harder for the UK to come to a decision.
As far as India is concerned, granting asylum to Sheikh Hasina for a lifetime isn’t something India is very keen on, as providing asylum for the ex-prime minister, who is held responsible and accountable for Bangladesh’s plight, would adversely affect the relationship with Bangladesh and neighbouring countries. Moreover, considering her security Sheikh Hasina most likely does not prefer to stay this close to Bangladesh.
Aayush Pal 
Balaji Subramanian 
Palak Dogra