Sheikh Hasina Living in New Delhi’s Lutyens Zone After Fleeing Bangladesh Amid Protests

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 25th Oct. Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been residing in a high-security safe house in New Delhi’s Lutyens Bungalow Zone for over two months after fleeing Bangladesh, sources confirmed. This arrangement was made by the Government of India following her departure from Dhaka amid mass anti-government protests.

On 5 August, thousands of protesters stormed Hasina’s residence in Dhaka, forcing her to step down after weeks of violent demonstrations that claimed over 400 lives. She and a small group, including close aides, were flown to India aboard a Bangladesh Air Force aircraft, arriving at Hindon airbase late the same night. Soon after, she was relocated to a secure residence in Lutyens’ Delhi.

While the Government of India has not officially disclosed her location to Bangladesh, sources say she has been under round-the-clock protection. Despite her precarious situation, Hasina occasionally steps out for walks in Delhi’s Lodhi Garden, accompanied by a discreet yet strong security detail.

“She has been staying here for over two months, and all necessary security arrangements have been made,” a source revealed. The house in which Hasina resides is situated in a high-security zone, home to several former and current Members of Parliament and senior officials.

Hasina’s flight to India came after weeks of political turmoil in Bangladesh, which intensified following a crackdown on student protests. The protests, originally focused on education reform, escalated into mass demonstrations demanding her resignation. The violence prompted widespread allegations of human rights violations, eventually leading to her ouster.

The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) in Bangladesh, which was established under Hasina’s leadership in 2010, has now turned its focus on her. Last week, the tribunal issued arrest warrants against Hasina, Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader, and 44 others, accusing them of crimes against humanity during the protests in July and August. Hasina, along with the 45 others, has been ordered to appear before the court by 18 November.

Hasina’s family remains closely tied to her exile in India. Her sister, Sheikh Rehana, a British citizen, was on the flight to New Delhi, though it is unclear if she is staying with Hasina. Meanwhile, her daughter Saima Wazed, a senior official with the World Health Organisation (WHO) in Delhi, resides in the same city.

While Indian officials, including National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, met Hasina upon her arrival, there has been no official statement on her future plans or the length of her stay. Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar confirmed in August that Hasina had sought permission to come to India, but further details remain undisclosed.

As political tensions simmer in Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina’s presence in India highlights the delicate nature of diplomatic relations in the region, with potential legal challenges awaiting her return to Bangladesh.