Sheikh Hasina has lived in Delhi since August 2024 after fleeing Dhaka amid violent protests. The ousted prime minister says she will return only when elections are free and fair; supporters plan an election boycott. Read details on her life in India, security arrangements and political implications.
Sheikh Hasina Sudden Exit from Dhaka and Safe Arrival in India
Former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina has been living quietly in New Delhi since fleeing her Dhaka residence amid violent, student-led protests in August 2024. Her departure followed a dramatic helicopter escape and temporary stay at Hindon airbase before being moved to a secure residence arranged by Indian authorities. Hasina has said she yearns to return but insists she will do so only when the government in Dhaka is legitimate and elections are free and fair.
Since her ouster, an interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus is steering Bangladesh toward national elections scheduled for February 2027. Hasina, meanwhile, has urged supporters of the Awami League to boycott any poll she considers illegitimate, warning that disenfranchising millions of her party’s voters would undermine democratic restoration. Her public outings in Delhi—such as walks in Lodhi Garden—have been low-profile and accompanied by discreet security details.
Political analysts say Hasina’s exile raises complex regional questions: India’s role in providing safe haven, the interim government’s capacity to hold credible polls, and the potential for sustained street mobilisation by Awami League supporters. Reports note that the interim administration has voiced concerns about external and internal forces that could disrupt the electoral process, while Hasina’s statements focus repeatedly on constitutional legitimacy and rule of law as preconditions for her return.
