Former Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India on Monday following her resignation amid intense anti-government protests, made a shopping trip to the Hindon Air Force Station’s shopping complex on Tuesday.
Sources familiar with the situation revealed that Hasina arrived in India with minimal luggage, carrying just two bags and four suitcases.
During her shopping spree, she spent approximately Rs 30,000 on clothing for her sister. When she ran short of Indian currency, she supplemented her payment with Bangladeshi notes.
Accompanied by her sister, Sheikh Rehana, Hasina landed at Hindon Airbase on Tuesday and was promptly escorted to a secure location in Delhi under tight security measures.
She has been in India for the past three days, and her son, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, has stated that she will remain in Delhi for an indefinite period.
In an interview, Joy dismissed rumors of his mother seeking asylum in a third country.
He said, "She has not taken any decision about this yet. She will stay in Delhi for some more time. My sister is with her, so she is not alone." Joy clarified that his mother's stay in India is temporary and that she has no immediate plans to seek asylum elsewhere.
Hasina’s daughter, Saima Wazed, who is the Regional Director of the South-East Asia region of the World Health Organisation, headquartered in New Delhi, is reportedly providing a familial support system during Hasina's stay in India.
Plans for Hasina to visit London have been postponed due to delays in the asylum process by British authorities. Rehana’s daughter, Tulip Siddiq, a member of the British Parliament, adds complexity to the situation.
In the interview, Joy was asked about his political ambitions amid the current instability in Bangladesh.
With a smile, he replied, "There is no such plan right now. This is the third time a coup has been carried out against our family." Joy pointed out that other family members, including Sheikh Rehana, are unlikely to enter politics as they have lived abroad for a considerable time.
Meanwhile, Nobel laureate Professor Mohammad Yunus has returned from Paris to lead the interim government in Bangladesh. The swearing-in ceremony is scheduled for late Thursday.
In response to the political upheaval in Bangladesh, the Border Security Force (BSF) has heightened security along the border.
The South Berubari area of Jalpaiguri district, adjacent to the Bangladesh border, lacks barbed wire fencing over a 16 km stretch.
The unrest has prompted an influx of Bangladeshi families gathering at Zero Point near Dhardhara Para, hoping to cross into India. The BSF remains on high alert to manage and control any attempts at illegal entry.
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