Despite Bangladesh burning, former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina tried to cling to power until she was told by her security officers that it would no longer be possible to control the protesters.
On Monday, as protests rocked Bangladesh, Hasina was in Ganabhaban, the Prime Minister's residence, contemplating her next move. That's when the police informed her that the students had begun their march to Ganabhabhan from Shahbagh and Uttara, according to Protom Alo.
At one point, Sheikh Hasina said the police were doing well. However, the top officials informed her that they could not control the protesters using force for long. However, Hasina was reluctant to accept her fate.
The officials then spoke to her sister Sheikh Rehana in a separate room, asking her to convince the Prime Minister. Though Rehana spoke to Hasina, the latter was determined to hold on to power and stay in Dhaka.
The security officials then called Hasina's son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, who is in the UK. Joy spoke to his mother over the phone and convinced her to leave. It was then that Hasina finally agreed to resign. But, she insisted on recording a speech addressed to the nation.
But, the protesters had, by then, begun their march to Ganabhaban. Hasina just had 45 minutes to leave the country.
Across multiple locations in Bangladesh, people were seen demolishing statues of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the father of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The @albd1971 , has long been centered around a cult of personality focused on Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Revered as the nation's… pic.twitter.com/xvLz8ZQcZM
— Sami (@ZulkarnainSaer) August 6, 2024
Soon after, Hasina and Rehana left for the helipad of the old airport in Tejgaon. They just carried some luggage. The duo then went to Bangabhaban so that Hasina could formalise her resignation. She left around 2:30 pm by military helicopter for India.
After entering Indian airspace, the helicopter circled for some time before it landed at a BSF helipad in Agartala. From there, the flight went to Delhi.
The Bangladesh Air Force transport plane C-130J that carried her to Ghaziabad's Hindon air base has since left for Dhaka without her.
Though Hasina is yet to confirm her future course of action, reports claim she is expected to fly to London where she may seek political asylum. She was reportedly in touch with the authorities in the United Kingdom regarding asylum.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said Hasina is in a state of shock and the government is giving her time to recover before it speaks to her over various issues, including her future plans.
