Sources said Hasina, the longest-tenured female head of government in the world, has got relatives in London, the US as well as Singapore, but has not yet zeroed in on any of the options.Her son Joy has said she will not return to Bangladesh.
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The Awami League leader, India’s trusted security partner, has been put up in a safehouse, with the government assuring that she should feel at home.
The turn of events leading to her resignation and escape from angry mobs was reviewed at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security chaired by PM Modi. The discussion focused on the safety of Indian nationals, and diplomats in the high commission in Dhaka and consulates.
Hasina had earlier sought safe passage to India, a request immediately granted by New Delhi. IAF fighter jets provided cover to the C-130 aircraft of Bangladesh Air Force during its flight in India, sources said.
India kept a close watch on Hasina’s plane till it landed
India’s top security and intelligence officials closely monitored the Bangladesh Air Force transport aircraft carrying Hasina throughout its flight in Indian airspace till it landed at Hindon Monday evening.
She took the C-130, with call sign AJAX1431, from an airbase in Bangladesh after fleeing from Dhaka in an Mi-17 helicopter. Hindon, incidentally, is the home base for Indian C-130J ‘Super Hercules’ planes in the 77 Squadron (Veiled Vipers) of the IAF.
Doval was not present at the CCS meeting convened by PM Modi and attended by defence minister Rajnath Singh, home minister Amit Shah, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman and foreign minister S Jaishankar. The safety of Indian nationals and diplomatic personnel figured prominently in the deliberations because of Hasina’s “pro-India” image as well as the involvement of anti-India elements in the protests.
EAM S Jaishankar is likely to make a statement in the Parliament on Tuesday.