India seems to be preparing to keep former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina in the country, rather than sending her to a third country, according to multiple reliable sources within the Indian government.
In recent days, several Bangladeshi newspapers have reported that Sheikh Hasina might leave India for a Middle Eastern country at any time. Some reports even suggested she has already moved to Ajman, a city in the United Arab Emirates, where Awami League leader Shamim Osman has a house, and that she is staying there.
On Tuesday, Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain said the government had inquired about Hasina’s whereabouts in both India and the UAE but received no confirmation.
His statement only fuelled further speculation about Sheikh Hasina's location.
This correspondent conducted a detailed investigation in Delhi and confirmed that Sheikh Hasina has not left India.
Hasina arrived at Hindon air base near Delhi on August 5 under special circumstances. Since then, she has been staying in the Indian capital, accompanied by her younger sister, Sheikh Rehana.
Delhi remains tight-lipped about the siblings’ location.
So after two months since her arrival in Delhi, what has India decided about Hasina?
In exploring this question, three options seem to emerge.
Seeking safe haven in a third country
The effort to find a safe haven for Hasina in a third country has not been entirely abandoned.
India has informally engaged in discussions with countries like Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and two or three small European countries.
However, no suitable destination has been found that meets all the necessary conditions for Hasina. Some negotiations progressed significantly, but no breakthrough was achieved.
That being said, India has not completely given up on this option.
Keeping her in India for an extended period
Another option is to continue hosting Hasina in India for an extended period, without making any formal announcement about her status.
India has the authority to allow her to stay as long as necessary. The 45-day visa-free stay under a diplomatic passport does not apply in this case, as India considers Sheikh Hasina’s entry legitimate.
Delhi can easily make arrangements for such a high-profile guest to stay indefinitely.
Political asylum
The third option is to grant Hasina political asylum, allowing her to stay in India permanently or as long as she wishes.
India has previously provided asylum to high-profile figures like the Dalai Lama and the family of former Afghan president Mohammad Najibullah, even knowing it could strain relations with China and Afghanistan.
The same could be done for Hasina, though it may affect Delhi’s relations with Dhaka.
India would certainly weigh these considerations before offering political asylum.
However, if the Indian government does decide to go down this path, it will likely do so after consulting all major political parties.
Hasina’s close ties with almost all Indian political parties, including the Congress, and her friendship with the Gandhi family, make it likely that the proposal would receive widespread support and become a consensus decision.
An all-party meeting might be convened during the winter session of the Indian Parliament (November-December) to discuss this matter.
Of these three options, the first is not entirely in India’s control, as it depends on the situation and conditions of a third country. However, the other two options are fully within India’s hands.
Based on this, it seems plausible that Hasina may have to stay in India for a long time, and Delhi appears to be gradually preparing for this reality.
