Chief of the Bangladeshi army will meet with student leaders; Sheikh Hasina seeks asylum in the UK

Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is reportedly planning to travel to London after fleeing her country and arriving in India amidst continuing unrest in Bangladesh. Hasina, known as the 'Iron Lady' for her strong leadership over 15 years, was forced to resign due to mass anti-government protests that have left over 300 people dead.

After arriving at Hindon Airbase on the outskirts of Delhi on Monday, Hasina has remained there, reportedly awaiting clearance for her onward travel to the United Kingdom. National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and other senior Indian officials met Hasina upon her arrival. It has been reported that India conveyed its stance on the situation in Bangladesh to her. 

Sources told PTI that Hasina plans to seek asylum in London. However, her son, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, disputed this, stating she does not plan to return to Bangladesh. Meanwhile, the British Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, has called for a full and independent UN-led investigation into the violence in Bangladesh, complicating her asylum prospects.

The political situation in Bangladesh remains highly volatile. General Waker-Uz-Zaman, the army chief, has announced that a new interim government will soon be formed after consultations with political parties, excluding the former ruling party, Awami League. He promised an end to the crackdown and is scheduled to meet with student protest leaders today. The protests initially focused on job quotas but quickly expanded to calls for Hasina’s resignation. The students are now pushing for an interim government led by Nobel Peace laureate Muhammad Yunus.

Upon her departure, the streets of Dhaka erupted in celebration. Protesters stormed Hasina's official residence, waving flags, and looting valuables, while visuals of them lying in her beds and raiding the kitchen went viral. They also stormed the parliament building, cheering wildly, setting off smoke bombs, looting, and defacing murals and statues of Hasina's father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

In response to the turmoil, Bangladesh's President Mohammed Shahabuddin ordered the release of jailed former Prime Minister and key opposition leader Khaleda Zia, hours after Hasina's ouster. Zia, the chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, had been serving a 17-year sentence for corruption since 2018.

International reactions have been swift. The US has urged for a democratic and inclusive formation of an interim government and called on all sides to refrain from further violence. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has sought a full and independent probe into the violence.

Despite her resignation and departure, Hasina’s legacy remains a mix of significant economic growth and controversial governance. Under her leadership, Bangladesh's GDP grew at an average of over 6 percent per year, transforming the country into a rising economic force in South Asia. However, her government also faced significant criticism for alleged human rights abuses, corruption, and suppression of political opposition. 

As the situation continues to evolve, all eyes remain on the developments in Bangladesh and Sheikh Hasina’s next moves.