Amid uncertainties regarding Sheikh Hasina's travel to the United Kingdom 'seeking asylum', the British government has called for a United Nations-led investigation into the recent violent incidents in Bangladesh.
The violent protests that erupted in the country, over the controversial quota system in government jobs, forced Prime Minister Hasina to resign and flee to India. Reportedly, Hasina plans to travel to London as her sister and niece stay there.
So far, the government has made no official statement regarding reports of Hasina seeking asylum in the UK. However, sources reportedly said that the country's immigration rules don't specifically allow individuals to travel to the UK to seek asylum.
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UK foreign secretary David Lammy in a statement said, "The last two weeks in Bangladesh have seen unprecedented levels of violence and tragic loss of life."
Soon after Hasina fled the country, the Army chief announced the formation of an interim government after meeting with the President.
“The UK wants to see action taken to ensure Bangladesh a peaceful and democratic future. The UK and Bangladesh have deep people-to-people links and shared Commonwealth values,” Lammy added.
The UK has a proud record of providing protection for people who need it, there is no provision within the Immigration Rules for someone to be allowed to travel to the UK to seek asylum or temporary refuge.
As per the asylum procedures, those who need international protection should claim asylum in the first safe country they reach as the fastest route to safety.
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It is said that since Hasina's niece, Tulip Siddiq, the daughter of UK passport holder Sheikh Rehana, is based in north London, UK is her likely choice. Siddiq is a Labour Party member of Parliament from Hampstead.
Earlier, the UK had offered Hasina's late father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, refuge on his release from a Pakistani jail in 1972 following the freedom struggle.
However, the present situation has placed the UK in a dilemma. It would be difficult for the UK to ignore her request considering Hasina’s relationship with the country.
According to experts, if the UN-led investigations take place it will likely hold Hasina accountable to some degree and would look bad for the UK government if she is in the UK at that time.
Rahul Roy-Chaudhury, Senior Fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) in London, told PTI that a possible solution would be to give Hasina leave to enter the UK where she could live in self-exile. However, it is challenging as her niece is a Labour Party member, he added.
