Sheikh Hasina took refuge in India last Monday after resigning from the post of Prime Minister and fleeing the country. According to Indian media, Sheikh Hasina’s stay in India is temporary. He did not seek political asylum in the country. Instead, he plans to seek political asylum in the UK.
But three days after leaving Bangladesh, nothing is known about Sheikh Hasina’s political asylum or final destination. Among these, only the Indian government has said that the ousted Prime Minister of Bangladesh has been kept in a ‘safe haven’ in Delhi.
In the meantime, the news of Indian Express today on Wednesday, Sheikh Hasina wants to go to London. His niece Tulip Siddique lives there. Tulip is a Member of Parliament for the ruling Labor Party in the UK, serving as City Minister in the government.
According to the Indian Express, there is a ‘strategic obstacle’ to Sheikh Hasina getting political asylum in the UK. And that is around UK immigration law.
Under UK immigration law, there is no provision to allow someone to travel to the UK for asylum or temporary asylum. Even from outside the UK, no one can seek political asylum in the country.
In that case you have to stay there after going to UK with visa. After that anyone can apply for political asylum.
Here lies the problem with Sheikh Hasina. He does not have a valid UK visa. Even now he does not have any diplomatic or official passport. Therefore, to seek political asylum, Sheikh Hasina will have to stay in the country after getting a passport-visa. Only then can he seek asylum.
According to a source in Delhi, the Indian Express says that as long as the political asylum-related complications are not resolved, the Indian government plans to keep Sheikh Hasina in Delhi. This is the situation after talks between Delhi, London and Hasina in the last 24 hours.
A UK Home Office spokesperson told Indian media outlet NDTV on Tuesday, “The UK has a proud record of providing protection to people who need it.” But there is no provision to allow anyone to travel to the UK for asylum or temporary asylum.’
The spokesperson also said, ‘Those who need international protection should first seek asylum in the safe country they reach. It is the fastest way to safety.’
From the words of this spokesperson of the Ministry of Home Affairs of the United Kingdom, it is understood that Sheikh Hasina may have to stay in India for the time being.
Meanwhile, Sheikh Hasina has no plans to go anywhere else from India, said her son Sajib Wazed Joy. He said this in an exclusive interview given to Deutsche Welle.
Sajib Wazed Joy said, “Sheikh Hasina is fine, now she is in Delhi.” My sister is with him. My sister lives in Delhi. He is fine, but he is very upset.’