Two diplomats at Bangladesh’s Indian High Commission have been dismissed from their roles following a directive from Bangladesh’s interim government. This decision, effective from August 17, required them to step down before their contracts expired.
Earlier this month, former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was overthrown by violent mobs. This unrest followed weeks of aggressive protests against government job quotas. Fleeing for her life, Hasina was airlifted to New Delhi. Following her escape, her residence was raided and looted by outraged crowds.
The interim government of Bangladesh has cancelled her diplomatic passport and those of her advisors, former cabinet members, and all members of the dissolved 12th Jatiya Sangsad (Parliament) along with their spouses.
Currently, Hasina is in a safe house in India, but her future remains unclear. She reportedly holds no passport other than the revoked diplomatic one, and the Bangladesh government may soon seek her extradition, complicating her situation further. India and Bangladesh have an extradition treaty, under which Bangladesh may want her back to face a slew of cases she’s facing, of which 27 are for murder, per reports.
Indian visa regulations permit Bangladeshi citizens with diplomatic or official passports to enter visa-free and stay for up to 45 days. As of Saturday, Hasina has already been in India for 20 days, leaving her with a limited legal stay.
Options for Hasina’s asylum appear to be dwindling. Reports said that Hasina, 76, sought asylum in Europe, but several governments reportedly refused to offer her legal immunity, a claim her son has denied. She sought refuge in the UK, but British officials have been non-committal, citing that asylum seekers must claim asylum in the first safe country they reach—in this case, India. This policy leaves her in a difficult spot, as the UK has explicitly stated there is no provision for seeking asylum from another country.
Hasina’s team has considered asylum in Scandinavian countries, but these nations have shown little interest. Other possibilities include Finland, where she has family ties, and potentially Russia or Belarus, though these remain uncertain.
This diplomatic fallout could strain India’s longstanding relationship with Bangladesh, especially given the Modi government’s previous support for Hasina’s regime. India would want to avoid overtly supporting the ousted leader, as doing so could jeopardise its relationship with Bangladesh’s new government. Allowing Hasina to remain in India indefinitely could further strain relations between the two countries.
