On August 5, 2024, Sheikh Hasina fled Bangladesh for India amid protests. Delhi, unprepared for her arrival, managed the crisis discreetly, granting her temporary asylum as political tensions unfolded.
On August 5, 2024, India’s parliament was busy with its monsoon session. Key bills awaited passage, and leaders like Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, and S Jaishankar were focused on urgent tasks.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh faced chaos. Lakhs of protesters blocked Dhaka during the “March to Dhaka” movement. Indian officials, including Ajit Doval, closely monitored Sheikh Hasina’s response to the crisis.
Indian intelligence believed Hasina could handle the protests. Her resilience in past crises led Delhi to expect she would overcome the challenge, not anticipating her sudden flight to India.
No prior talks between Modi and Hasina, including their last call on August 4, hinted at her fleeing. India assumed she would remain in Bangladesh, managing the unrest.
Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi and Bangladesh’s General Waker-Uz-Zaman stayed in contact. India offered support but ruled out sending troops, expecting Hasina to stay in power.
The rapid escalation on August 5 caught Delhi off guard. Hasina’s resignation and departure were unexpected, as India had considered her flight from Bangladesh highly unlikely.
Hasina contacted Delhi around noon, requesting permission to enter India. Foreign Minister Jaishankar later confirmed she called her office, likely speaking with Modi directly.
India swiftly approved Hasina’s request. A second call from Bangladesh’s Air Force sought clearance for her military aircraft to land at Hindon Airbase near Delhi.
Bangladesh’s army urged India to send a plane for Hasina. India declined, insisting she travel on a Bangladeshi aircraft to avoid appearing to orchestrate her escape.
Hasina arrived in Delhi on a C-130 military transport. India ensured her safe landing at Hindon Airbase, maintaining that Bangladesh facilitated her departure, not India.
That night, India evacuated most embassy staff from Dhaka to Kolkata or Delhi via commercial flights, reflecting the urgency of the unfolding crisis in Bangladesh.
News of Hasina’s arrival spread quickly in Delhi. Speculation arose about her next destination—possibly the UK, Norway, Sweden, or Belarus—but no plans were confirmed.
In parliament, opposition leader Sudip Bandyopadhyay raised Bangladesh’s violence. Speaker Jagdambika Pal dismissed the topic, urging focus on domestic issues, reflecting India’s cautious stance.
The government asked opposition parties to avoid pressuring for statements. The situation in Bangladesh was fluid, making it hard to predict its direction or implications.
On August 6, a closed-door meeting with all parties occurred. Jaishankar, Rajnath Singh, and Amit Shah briefed leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, on India’s strategy.
Jaishankar later addressed parliament, explaining India’s decision to grant Hasina temporary asylum. He emphasized it was a short-term measure until she moved to another country.
India expected Hasina’s stay to be brief, possibly a stopover before heading to the UK. However, the UK declined her entry, leaving her in Delhi, out of public view.
