Sajeeb Wazed Joy, the son of former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, revealed in an interview on Wednesday that his mother was reluctant to leave Bangladesh. Joy explained that their family had to persuade her to evacuate Dhaka, stressing his concern for her safety. “I was worried not because she was leaving Bangladesh, but because she didn’t want to leave Bangladesh. We had to convince her. I said this is not a political movement anymore, this is a mob … they are going to kill you,” Joy told Deutsche Welle.
He also addressed speculation about Hasina seeking asylum in the United States or the United Kingdom, dismissing these reports and confirming that she would remain in Delhi for the time being.
Sheikh Hasina departed Dhaka on a military aircraft on Monday and arrived at Hindon Airport in Ghaziabad, where she was taken to a secure location. Shortly after her departure, a group of students protesting against government job quotas stormed her residence.
Joy explained that the decision for Hasina to resign was made the previous day, but the resignation was hastened by the advancing protesters. “She had made the decision a day earlier. Only a few of us knew that she would announce she was resigning and that she planned to ensure a transition of power according to the Constitution. But when they (protesters) began marching towards Ganabhaban, we said out of fear, there was no more time. You have to leave now,” he said.
He added that Hasina has not yet decided whether to move from India to another location and mentioned that she is currently very upset. “Sheikh Hasina is well and now in Delhi. My sister is with her. My sister lives in Delhi… She is well, but very upset,” he noted.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar informed an all-party meeting on Tuesday that Sheikh Hasina is in a state of shock, and the government has allowed her some time before discussing her future plans.