After being removed from power in Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina entered India in very dramatic circumstances – almost three months later. But the wonder is that Sheikh Hasina has taken refuge in this country at this time – the Indian government has not said a single word about her except to confirm this.
It means that there is no official statement so far from the Government of India regarding where or how Sheikh Hasina was held. Delhi has also avoided any questions about his immigration ‘status’ or his base in India.
In the last three months, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs gave a quick response to all the questions about Sheikh Hasina, “You know that she had to come to this country for a short time without notice. It’s still like that.’ Only once did the speaker say he had to move to India for ‘security reasons’.
Answering questions about Sheikh Hasina, spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal referred to her as the ‘former prime minister’ of Bangladesh several times. Since it is clear, even in the eyes of India, he is no longer the Prime Minister of Bangladesh. India’s Foreign Minister S Jaishankar also said in the country’s Parliament on the evening of August 6 that Sheikh Hasina came to India ‘apparently’ by resigning as Prime Minister.
But even if he has resigned from the Prime Minister, as he did or the legitimacy of that process, the Indian government has not clarified its position even once.
Simply put, the Indian government has decided to maintain maximum secrecy in the entire matter surrounding Sheikh Hasina. And he has been successful in maintaining it for about three months.
Now the question is – why is it being done? Why is not a word being spoken about his presence in India?
It goes without saying that the decision to give shelter to Sheikh Hasina in India, be it temporary or long-term, was taken from the highest level. And in this day and age, it is not possible to carry even such a high profile person secretly – it was not even possible in India. It has been admitted that he gave him asylum at the first opportunity. But since then a kind of ‘hard silence’ has been maintained on the whole matter.
Bengali Tribune spoke to three former diplomats or foreign policy experts in Delhi to get answers to these questions. Their opinion on this matter is indicated in their statement.
Pinakaranjan Chakraborty
He was the High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh, who was the Head of the Protocol Department of the Ministry of External Affairs. He said, “If you ask me why there is so much secrecy about Sheikh Hasina, the simple answer is security.
Sheikh Hasina is a special guest of India, whose life and security cannot be in such danger. India not only sheltered him in his hour of danger but also took responsibility for his protection – but this too must be remembered.
<span style="max-width:100%" class="jwMediaContent jw_media_holder aligncenter" data-align="aligncenter" id="ari-image-jw67215b174ead4" data-ari="{"path":"media/2024/10/29/unnamed-2-c976f95dca418dc06b69cfa275b68528.jpg","width":"600","alt":"unnamed (2)","fullscreen":1,"align":"aligncenter","viewPort":".featured_image","url":"https://www.banglatribune.com/national/870458/%E0%A6%B6%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%96-%E0%A6%B9%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B8%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%95%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%BF%E0%A7%9F%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%A6%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B2%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%95%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%A8-%E0%A6%8F%E0%A6%A4-%E0%A6%97%E0%A7%8B%E0%A6%AA%E0%A6%A8%E0%A7%80%E0%A7%9F%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%BE#image-jw67215b174ead4","id":"jw67215b174ead4","caption":"u09aau09bfu09a8u09beu0995u09b0u099eu09cdu099cu09a8 u099au0995u09cdu09b0u09acu09b0u09cdu09a4u09c0","wrapCaption":"u09aau09bfu09a8u09beu0995u09b0u099eu09cdu099cu09a8u099au0995u09acu09b0u09acu09b0u09acu09b0u09a“}”>
Now someone may ask, where is the danger of Sheikh Hasina’s life in India? To answer this, risks can come from many sides. Who can guarantee that the members of the ‘jihadi’ groups in Bangladesh who have taken strict measures against them in the past will not take advantage of the situation to try to kill Sheikh Hasina? If Sheikh Hasina’s ‘place’ is in the public domain, where is the guarantee that she will not go to her Dera and throw four bombs?
Especially a few days ago, we saw that Jasimuddin Rehmani, the leader of Ansarullah Bangla team in Bangladesh, has now come out after getting bail. People of these groups will definitely feel inspired by this. Don’t know what to do in this situation. As a result, it is not difficult to understand why India is sitting on the position of Sheikh Hasina!
Shubhramal Dutta
Foreign policy expert Subhrokmal Dutta is close to India’s ruling BJP party. He told the Bengali Tribune, ‘Look, why India does not want to say anything about Sheikh Hasina’s stay in this country – I think there are several reasons.’
<span style="max-width:100%" class="jwMediaContent jw_media_holder aligncenter" data-align="aligncenter" id="ari-image-jw67215b174eb00" data-ari="{"path":"media/2024/10/29/unnamed-1-b9c214caa770c55e8b50b51b1a73b082.jpg","width":"600","alt":"unnamed (1)","fullscreen":1,"align":"aligncenter","viewPort":".featured_image","url":"https://www.banglatribune.com/national/870458/%E0%A6%B6%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%96-%E0%A6%B9%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B8%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%95%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%BF%E0%A7%9F%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%A6%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B2%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%95%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%A8-%E0%A6%8F%E0%A6%A4-%E0%A6%97%E0%A7%8B%E0%A6%AA%E0%A6%A8%E0%A7%80%E0%A7%9F%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%BE#image-jw67215b174eb00","id":"jw67215b174eb00","caption":"u09b6u09c1u09adu09cdu09b0u0995u09aeu09b2 u09a6u09a4u09cdu09a4","wrapCaption":"6u09c1u09adu09cdu090u0995u09aeu092u09a6u09a4u09cdu09a4“}”> 
First, it is as clear as day that the US is behind the movement that led to the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government. It is becoming clearer as the days go by. Now America is a close diplomatic ally of India, a strategic partner and together they are members of the Quad Alliance. And I am sure, behind the scenes there are definitely discussions going on between Delhi and Washington on the situation in Bangladesh. India also needs to look for a formula to solve the crisis like them. Among them, the presidential election of that country is within a week, so there is a good chance that power will change.
In this situation, it is natural that Delhi would not want to complicate the situation by giving a public comment on Sheikh Hasina’s movements or her position in India. Instead, they will wait to see where America’s political direction goes.
The second reason is definitely related to Sheikh Hasina’s personal safety or security. India’s policy is very clear in this regard, as long as he stays in this country or voluntarily to any third country, he will be treated as a guest with utmost respect and security. That is why it is kept in a very secret place with ‘Z Plus Plus’ or higher category security. No information about the movement of such VVIPs is ever disclosed, the same is done here. So in my opinion, India’s decision is 100% reasonable.
Bhaswati Mukherjee
He was India’s top diplomat, former ambassador to the Netherlands and the European Union. He said, ‘The main reason India is not saying anything publicly about Sheikh Hasina is the double standard or the double standard in Western countries, especially the United States.’
<span style="max-width:100%" class="jwMediaContent jw_media_holder aligncenter" data-align="aligncenter" id="ari-image-jw67215b174eb28" data-ari="{"path":"media/2024/10/29/unnamed-e87112459818127a73ffd96363450d4d.jpg","width":"600","alt":"unnamed","fullscreen":1,"align":"aligncenter","viewPort":".featured_image","url":"https://www.banglatribune.com/national/870458/%E0%A6%B6%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%96-%E0%A6%B9%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B8%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%95%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%BF%E0%A7%9F%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%A6%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B2%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%95%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%A8-%E0%A6%8F%E0%A6%A4-%E0%A6%97%E0%A7%8B%E0%A6%AA%E0%A6%A8%E0%A7%80%E0%A7%9F%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%BE#image-jw67215b174eb28","id":"jw67215b174eb28","caption":"u09adu09beu09b8u09cdu09acu09a4u09c0 u09aeu09c1u0996u09beu09b0u09cdu099cu09bf","wrapCaption":"u09adu09beu09b8u09cdu09acu09a4u09c0u09aeu09c1u0996u09beu09b0u09cdu099cu09bf“}”> 
Why am I saying this? Because the whole world knows that America has entered Pakistan and killed Osama Bin Laden. But they want to point their finger at India and say that we want to kill Khalistani leaders in their country! The content of this complaint may not even be that much. But in the eyes of America, the level of security is the same for themselves, and different for the rest of the world – needless to say!
Now since India has sheltered Sheikh Hasina, let India handle her security! India is no longer under colonial rule, it has full power and right to make its own decisions.
As a result, how much will be said about Sheikh Hasina’s presence and how much will not be said is entirely within India’s jurisdiction. I have no doubt at least that India is making that decision, diplomatically or strategically, considering both sides, he said.
