The Indian government has decided to grant a long-term residence permit to the deposed prime minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, for staying in the country.
Highly placed sources confirmed this on Tuesday to some media outlets. However, the nature of the permit has not been disclosed.
Some sources indicated that it could be a “residential permit,” which allows individuals to live a normal life while in exile.
On the recommendation of the Ministry of External Affairs, the Home Ministry is issuing such a permit.
Sources said that India has yet to decide whether to grant Sheikh Hasina political asylum, as there is no law in place to provide political asylum. At the same time, they noted that she would not be sent back to Bangladesh, as demanded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Sajeeb Wazed Joy, son of the former prime minister, previously told the Indian media that his mother did not seek political asylum and that her visa was valid when she landed at the Indian Hindan Air Force Station.
Meanwhile, the International Crimes Tribunal of Bangladesh charged Sheikh Hasina with the murder of innocent citizens. The tribunal asked the Bangladesh government to produce her before the Dhaka court for judicial trials and also decided to interrogate her on the charges. The Bangladesh government may request consular access from India.
Sources in the Indian government said, “We will cross that bridge when we come to it.” They explained that Indian authorities sheltered her on short notice. Until August 5, no criminal charges was filed against Hasina. India extended customary assistance to a “distressed person” on humanitarian grounds.
Generally, consular access is provided for a person who has been arrested and imprisoned. Sheikh Hasina was neither arrested nor imprisoned.
Earlier, India did not clarified Hasina’s plans, but now decided to allow her to stay in the country for as long as she wishes.
Bd-pratidin English/Fariha Nowshin Chinika
