“Whatever decision India takes, it should be respectful of Bangladesh as a neighbor, favorable to the interests of both countries and forward-looking.”
Sheikh Hasina left the country by resigning from the post of Prime Minister in the face of the mass uprising of students. Currently he is staying in India.
Now the question is – if any other country does not want to shelter Sheikh Hasina, then will India shelter her? And if India finally decided to give him asylum, what could be the reasons?
Talked about the matter with diplomat and former ambassador M Humayun Kabir. He is saying, ‘Now if India decides to give shelter to Sheikh Hasina, many things can come as an argument. When he was in danger in 1975, India gave him shelter. This time also he went there in danger. So they can give him shelter this time too.
‘Secondly, he has maintained good relations with India for the last 15 years. He has also taken India-Bangladesh relations to a new level. In that context, they might help him as allies or friends at the moment.’
Mentioning another reason for giving shelter to Sheikh Hasina, Humayun Kabir said, ‘Since India claims itself as a major power in the region, if Sheikh Hasina cannot go anywhere else, she is forced to stay in India, then India is keeping her as an example. can give India’s message in this case will be that India can give shelter to the friends they have in the region if they are displaced.’
Again, this former ambassador is not ruling out the possibility of not keeping Sheikh Hasina in India. He says, ‘If India shelters Sheikh Hasina, it will have a negative reaction in Bangladesh. Because we already know that various questions have been raised about India’s role in the last three elections. In that context, India will want to have a relationship with the people of Bangladesh or the future government of Bangladesh. Because we are nearest neighbors. We have a long common border. have common interests. There are many issues where we need to work together. In that case, if Sheikh Hasina stays in India, then it will be an issue for both countries. There will also be the question of how the people of Bangladesh will see it. From that point of view they may ask that it is better if he is not in India.’
So Humayun Kabir thinks that in the existing situation, India will take the final decision keeping in mind the issue of their future relationship with Bangladesh. He said, ‘Just as good relations with the governments of the two countries are necessary, it is also desirable to have a cordial relationship between the people of the two countries. Since we have to work together, whatever decision India takes in that context, it should be respectful of Bangladesh as a neighbour, favorable to the interests of both countries and forward-looking.’
It should be noted that the intense mass movement of students against Sheikh Hasina’s government in Bangladesh recently had a part of anti-India sentiments. India was seen internationally as the biggest supporter of the Hasina government.
Ignoring curfew and police obstacles, Sheikh Hasina fled Bangladesh and went to India on the eve of the march of millions of angry students towards Ganabhaban. He landed at Hindon Airport in Delhi. It is believed that he may seek political asylum in a third country from Delhi.
In this regard, the names of several countries including the United Kingdom, Belarus, Finland, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are being heard. However, in which country he is finally getting asylum, it is not yet clear. However, Delhi has said that they will keep him as long as necessary.
