Hasina flees to India, awaits UK asylum; PM Modi holds high-level meet on turmoil in Bangladesh

Bangladesh's former prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday (August 5) arrived in India after fleeing her violence-hit nation. The Bangladeshi leader, who as per reports was expected to only make a pit stop in India, will stay in the nation until granted political asylum in a third country.

Hasina was expected to go to London, however, as per a News 18 report, it is not yet confirmed if the embattled leader has received UK asylum or not. However, travelling with Hasina is her sister Rehana who holds a UK citizenship.

The Bangladeshi ex-prime minister reached India's Hindon Air Base at around 6:30 pm (IST) aboard Bangladesh Air Force's C-130 transport aircraft AJAX1413.

"The aircraft movement was monitored by Indian Air Force and security agencies from its entry into Indian airspace to the Hindon airbase in Ghaziabad," reported news agency ANI.

Upon her arrival, she was met at the airbase by National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and top Indian military officers. Hasina has been moved to a secure location.

Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the situation in Bangladesh, reports ANI.

Modi also chaired a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) on the unfolding situation in the neighbouring nation of Bangladesh. The high-level meeting was attended by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, S Jaishankar, and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba, principal secretary to PM PK Mishra, Research and Analysis Wing chief Ravi Sinha and Intelligence Bureau Director Tapan Deka, were also in attendance.