The matter of Sheikh Hasina taking refuge in Delhi is not mere a visit to the general people of Bangladesh, but a painful truth. It is now crystal clear that her roots of power are not deep within the soil of Bangladesh, but hanging by the mercy of India. Fearing for her life from the public’s wrath, she fled and sought asylum in Delhi.
An international criminal tribunal is now trying her on charges of vote rigging, oppression in prisons, torture in 'Aynaghar' (secret detention centres), extrajudicial killings, and the murder of innocent students and civilians during the recent mass uprising in July and August.
Yet, she now sits in the Indian capital, having crossed the border like a close relative. In the eyes of the public, this is not diplomacy, but a cruel drama, where the message is clear: she seeks power not in Dhaka, but in the shadow of Delhi. She has done the same in the past. When she was prime minister, Sheikh Hasina gave India plenty, expecting nothing in return. We have often heard this from her, and we have also seen it in reality. She gave transit rights to India without asking for anything in return and handed over ports to them.
Most recently, she tore through the heart of Bangladesh with a railway line. She didn't give the Teesta project to China, despite it being profitable, because of India's objections. She did everything to keep India happy. It's now understandable why she did all of this. What could be greater in this world than the life gifted by her father? India protected that life. What more could Sheikh Hasina want in return? India has given asylum to her party's top leaders and provided them with opportunities to engage in politics. Delhi is now making every effort to reinstate Hasina's Awami League in Bangladesh. It can now be said that what Sheikh Hasina has given to Delhi, Delhi will remember forever. This is not a secret, but an open secret.
With complete faith in India, Sheikh Hasina has ruled over the people of Bangladesh for the past 16 years, staging various dramas. The first act of her drama began in 2011 with the abolition of the Thirteenth Amendment, which included the caretaker government provision from the constitution. In 2014, a government was formed without the people's votes. Facing strong resistance, she staged the second act, saying it was an election to protect the constitution and that an interim election would be held soon. But she did not keep her word. The government, elected without votes, was dragged on for five years.
The 2018 election was the third act of that drama. During this time, thousands of BNP workers were arrested, and Khaleda Zia was pushed into a dark prison. The people's right to vote was snatched away. This has been recorded in the pages of history as the story of 'day's vote at night.' Yet, India immediately congratulated Hasina on her victory in that farcical election. A single question arose in people's minds: is the same country that stood by us with blood and sweat during the war of independence now the patron of the murder of democracy in Bangladesh?
The trade, security, and river agreements that Sheikh Hasina's government signed with India are not seen by the public as progress, but as documents of surrender. And when the Digital Security Act of 2018 began to suppress free speech, India's silence grew even colder and more frightening. Any journalist, student, writer, or online activist who protested found themselves in prison. The United Nations cried out that it was merely a tool to suppress expression. But Delhi remained silent. That silence seemed to be an aid to the ongoing oppression in Dhaka.
The most poignant scene was Hasina's reception in Delhi. She was welcomed by Ajit Doval, India's National Security Advisor, a name known for his covert games across the region. In the eyes of the people of Bangladesh, this was another insult. Hasina no longer appeared to be a Bangladeshi leader, but a representative of India's intelligence apparatus.
Today, the voice of the people is roaring in the streets. They are no longer accepting any excuses. They want Sheikh Hasina to be brought back to the country—for the sake of the imprisoned politicians, for the fake elections, for the bloody streets, and for the judgment of the dark chapter of the press. They want her to stand in the dock of a court and answer on the soil of Bangladesh, not under the shadow of a foreign flag.
Many political leaders in India have also become agitated over Delhi's granting of asylum to Sheikh Hasina. One of them is Asaduddin Owaisi, the leader of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) and a Member of Parliament from Hyderabad. He said that if the government truly wants to send 'illegal Bangladeshis' back from India, it should start by sending back former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
In the 'Idea Exchange' program of the Indian newspaper The Indian Express, Owaisi said, "Why have we kept that deposed leader (Hasina) in our country? She should be sent back. Is she not a Bangladeshi?"
So, let the 'push-in' to Bangladesh begin with Sheikh Hasina. If the Modi government gets annoyed just by hearing someone speak Bengali, does Sheikh Hasina speak Hindi? Anyone who speaks Bengali is being pushed in with a 'Bangladeshi' tag—whether they are from West Bengal, Tripura, or Assam, there's no leniency—if they speak Bengali, they are pushed in. Yet, Sheikh Hasina is living in comfort and luxury despite committing crimes against humanity. The people's demand is that she be sent back to Bangladesh to face justice. The people's anger is like an ignited fire. This is not just a political issue; it is a fight for self-respect. They are saying: "We don't want a runaway leader who crossed the border. We want accountability, we want justice, and we want democracy restored. And this fight will not stop until the day comes when the people, not the leader, are the true owners of power."
The writer is senior journalist and political analyst
