Sheikh Hasina Staying In Lutyens' Delhi Under Tight Security: 'Personnel Guarding Her Round The Clock'

Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India after tens of thousands of anti-government demonstrators stormed her residence in Dhaka on August 5, has been residing in a secure house in New Delhi's Lutyens Bungalow Zone for over two months, reported ThePrint.

The Government of India arranged the accommodation for her, and the location, a high-security area housing several former and current Members of Parliament and senior officials, has been kept confidential to ensure her privacy and safety.

Photo Credit: PTI

Hasina, protected by a strong security detail, occasionally takes walks at Lodhi Garden, sources confirmed to ThePrint.

"She has a strong security detail, with personnel guarding her round the clock but in plain clothes. As a dignitary, she is receiving this level of protection," a source revealed.

"She has been living in the area for more than two months now. All arrangements for her stay were made here."

Sources stated that Hasina, along with a small group of close associates, arrived in India on a Bangladesh Air Force aircraft late on August 5, shortly after she resigned, following weeks of deadly protests that left over 400 people dead.

However, she left the Hindon airbase within two days of her arrival. On the day she arrived, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and senior military officials met her at the airbase.

"She couldn't have stayed at the airbase for long. The arrangements there were not adequate. So, within a few days, she was moved to a safe place, and then this arrangement for a house in the secure area of Lutyens' Delhi was made," said another source.

When asked whether Hasina leaves the house often, the source added, "The core security group is informed when there is a need, and arrangements are made accordingly."

While the Indian government has not formally disclosed Hasina's location to Bangladesh, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar informed Parliament in August that Hasina had sought approval to come to India "for the moment".

Hasina's sister, Sheikh Rehana, who is a British citizen, accompanied her on the flight to India. Rehana's daughter, Tulip Siddiq, is a Labour Party leader in the UK, but it is unclear whether Rehana is staying at the house with Hasina.

Hasina's daughter, Saima Wazed, the Regional Director of the South-East Asia Region at the World Health Organisation's headquarters in Delhi, also resides in New Delhi. She is the first Bangladeshi to hold this position.

Last week, the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT), which was established by Hasina in 2010, issued arrest warrants for her, Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader, and 44 others in connection with alleged crimes "against humanity" during the student protests of July and August that led to her ousting.

The tribunal, chaired by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Majumdar, issued the orders after petitions from the prosecution sought the arrest of Hasina and other key political figures.

Media reports indicate that over 60 complaints of crimes against humanity and genocide have been lodged against Hasina and senior Awami League leaders. The tribunal has instructed authorities to arrest the 46 individuals and present them before the court by 18 November.

Effect on Indo-Bangla ties

Hasina's stay in India, following her flight from Dhaka, has become a contentious issue amid the political unrest in Bangladesh.

In conversations with ThePrint in Dhaka after her ouster, residents, including students and teachers, expressed that they had anticipated her fleeing to India, which they referred to as "her only friend."

What angered them, they said, was that India offered her refuge "knowing what she did to her people."

"It makes us think that India is complicit. She tortured students, rigged elections, got all opposition leaders arrested, and India was the first to congratulate her. Why?" asked Imam-ul-Haq, a student at Dhaka University.

"India has always supported her on international platforms. She was a dictator who crushed students, throttled democracy, but still India supported her. The friendship with India is what emboldened her. When she fled, we knew she would rush to her friend," he remarked.

Haq further criticised Hasina, accusing her of prioritising India over Bangladesh. "Hasina maintained her friendship with India and was always working to please them because she wanted to remain in power. Now she has got shelter only because of this friendship," he said.