Rupa Huq, a Bangladeshi-origin MP in the United Kingdom, has expressed concerns over the possibility of the UK granting refuge to former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who is rumored to be seeking asylum in the country following her recent departure from Bangladesh.
In an opinion piece published in the British online portal The Standard, Rupa Huq argued that it would be “unwise” for the UK government to offer asylum to Hasina, citing the deep unpopularity of her regime and the political sensitivities surrounding immigration.
Rupa Huq, who represents Ealing Central & Acton, revealed that her inbox has been inundated with messages urging her to block Sheikh Hasina from entering the UK.
“Given the deep unpopularity of her bloodthirsty regime and political sensitivities around immigration, it’d be unwise for the UK to give refuge to such a high-profile asylum seeker who is the subject of an International Criminal Court application,” Rupa Huq wrote.
UK clarifies asylum rules amid speculation on Sheikh Hasina’s next moveShe added that many Bangladeshis believe Sheikh Hasina should return to Bangladesh to face charges related to her government’s actions.
The former prime minister has been widely criticized for her handling of recent student-led protests in Bangladesh, which escalated into a larger movement calling for government reforms.
The unrest, which began over government job quotas, resulted in more than 600 deaths between July 16 and August 11 due to widespread violence.
Sheikh Hasina left Bangladesh on August 5, as protests intensified.
Rupa Huq’s piece also touched on the recent political developments in Bangladesh, including the appointment of Nobel laureate Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus as the chief advisor to the interim government.
“Until recently, Hasina was trying to lock him [Yunus] up on trumped-up charges, fearful of his popularity threatening her,” she noted.
Additionally, Rupa Huq criticized Hasina’s son, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, for his recent social media activity, where he labeled opponents as Islamists and scolded Bangladeshis for being ungrateful toward his mother.
“Hasina’s US-based son has issued a slew of videos variously labeling opponents Islamist, berating Bangladeshis for ingratitude to his mum, and vowing she’ll be back,” Rupa Huq commented.
Reflecting on the current situation in Bangladesh, Rupa Huq said her relatives in the country have expressed a “collective sense of relief” following the fall of the Awami League government.
“The climate of fear that voicing any governmental criticism risked being bumped off has lifted,” she observed, though she cautioned that risks remain as the country navigates its transition.
Rupa Huq concluded by urging for a “reset” in Bangladesh’s political landscape, calling for an end to the “stale enmity” between the two dominant political families that have characterized the nation’s history.
