Last Updated on 08/08/2024 by Arun jain
The student protest in Bangladesh suddenly turned into a political upheaval. Even the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had to resign and leave the country. Currently she is temporarily in India, but is looking for political asylum. Britain was the first option in this which seems to be almost closed. Many politicians also took refuge in America. But this is also difficult for the Bangladeshi leader. Then which are the countries that can be a possible option for Hasina.
How are the relations between America and Bangladesh
The US has consistently expressed its intention to help reduce Islamic extremism in Bangladesh, however, the last few months have seen a big change. News18 quoted AFP as saying that the US has imposed visa restrictions on Hasina, considering her a dictator. Even President Joe Biden called the elections held in Bangladesh unfair and not free. The US has also been accusing the country of ignoring human rights.
Hasina also retaliated by saying that Washington is interfering in her country. The result of the mutual tussle was that Washington cancelled the visas of many big Bangladeshi leaders including Hasina. That means we can assume that America will not give asylum to the Bangladeshi PM.
So what could be the options
As things stand right now, Hasina or her close ones are not speaking openly about which country she can take political asylum in. Even the potential countries are avoiding speaking openly on this. Many reports are claiming that since many of Hasina’s close ones live in Finland, she can go there. Children living in the US and the UK will also be able to come and go to this country. However, Finland has not officially agreed or disapproved of this.
Will Putin give shelter?
Russia can be a good option but there are many complications here too. In the recent past, Hasina’s relations with Russia, which is facing thousands of sanctions, have steadily improved. Even in October last year, Russian President Vladimir Putin had said that Russia would provide nuclear fuel for Bangladesh’s Ruppur Nuclear Power Plant (NPP). Apart from nuclear partnership, Bangladesh expressed its intention to join the BRICS group, which is a group of Russia, Brazil, China, India and South Africa. Hasina’s desire to join BRICS also reflects her distance from Western powers.
Then why are you not going to Russia?
Neither Russia nor Hasina or her family has made any such statement. If Russia gives political asylum to Hasina, it means that she will weaken relations with those countries whose relations with Russia are not so good, such as UAE and Saudi Arabia. Russia itself is stuck on one front due to the war with Ukraine, so it is not clear how much support it will give to a leader who is called a dictator.
These Muslim countries can also be options
A report in Financial Express indicates that UAE and Saudi Arabia are also possible options. This may be because both these countries have maintained a neutral stance on the whole issue so far. Both have a history of granting political asylum. Also, these are Muslim countries, where Hasina may be welcomed. But the discussion on these countries is still in the initial stages. There is no clue as to what will happen next. Many countries may also back out because America and Britain have almost closed the doors for Hasina. In such a situation, giving her political help can bring about major changes in geopolitics.
what happens under political asylum
It is a person’s right to live in a foreign land. If a person does not feel safe in his own country due to political or social reasons, he seeks asylum in another country. This is also mentioned in Article 14 of the United Nations. However, there is no compulsion on whether a country will give political asylum to someone or not. It is completely his/her choice. The country that gives political asylum takes the responsibility of the safety of the asylum seeker.
Source (PTI) (NDTV) (HINDUSTANTIMES)