Jaishankar Receives Call from UK Foreign Secretary; Sheikh Hasina Asylum Talk Intensifies

New Delhi: Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar received a significant call from UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy on Thursday amid mounting speculation regarding former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s potential asylum in the United Kingdom. The conversation between Jaishankar and Lammy centered around the rapidly evolving situations in Bangladesh and West Asia, as confirmed by Jaishankar through a post on X.

During a weekly briefing, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal provided further insight into the discussions, emphasizing the recent developments in Bangladesh’s political landscape. On August 5, 2024, Sheikh Hasina resigned from her position as Prime Minister and subsequently traveled to India. Her resignation occurred against the backdrop of escalating protests in Bangladesh, which were initially spearheaded by students demanding the abolition of the government job quota system. These protests have since grown into broader anti-government demonstrations, adding to the political volatility in the country.

As rumors swirl about Sheikh Hasina’s plans to seek asylum, her son, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, has publicly dismissed these claims as unfounded. In an interview with The Daily Star, he clarified that his mother has not yet decided on whether to seek asylum in either the United States or the United Kingdom. For now, Sheikh Hasina remains in Delhi, accompanied by her daughter, and will continue to stay there for the foreseeable future.

The political situation in Bangladesh remains tense and uncertain. Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus has been appointed to lead the interim government, but the future trajectory of Sheikh Hasina’s actions remains unclear. Her current focus appears to be on her stay in Delhi, while the political landscape in Bangladesh continues to unfold.