Lagatar24 Desk
Ghaziabad: Bangladesh’s ousted Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, has arrived at Ghaziabad’s Hindon Air Base aboard a C-130 transport aircraft. The aircraft is currently parked near the Indian Air Force’s C-17 and C-130J Super Hercules aircraft hangars.
The plane’s journey was closely monitored by the Indian Air Force from its entry into Indian airspace until its landing in Ghaziabad. According to diplomatic sources cited by PTI, Hasina will next fly to London after her stay in India.
It remains unclear whether the military transport aircraft will take her beyond India or if she will switch to a different plane for her journey to London. Reports indicate that a senior Air Force officer received Sheikh Hasina upon her arrival.
India agreed to provide safe passage through its airspace for Hasina’s aircraft following a request from Dhaka. While New Delhi has not officially commented on the developments in Dhaka, it is closely monitoring the situation.
Earlier, Bangladesh Army Chief General Waqar-uz-Zaman confirmed that Sheikh Hasina had resigned and announced the formation of an interim government. “I’m taking all responsibility (of the country). Please cooperate,” he said in a televised address, adding that the army would assume responsibility for law and order.
Sheikh Hasina fled Bangladesh after over 100 people were killed in just two days of protests against quotas in government jobs and educational institutions. The controversial quota system reserved 30 percent of civil service jobs for families of veterans who fought in the 1971 liberation war.
Reports suggest that Hasina fled the country on the advice of her security team, despite her initial reluctance to leave.
Meanwhile, security has been heightened at Bangladesh’s high commission in New Delhi. “More barricades have been placed outside the commission, and the number of police personnel deployed there has been increased,” a Delhi Police officer said.