Sheikh Hasina spent six years in exile, residing in Delhi’s Pandara Road with her children until 1981 following the 1975 massacre of her family in Bangladesh. (PTI File Photo)
In 1975, Sheikh Hasina fled to Delhi after her father’s assassination. The Indira Gandhi government granted her asylum, where she stayed for six years.
On August 15, 1975, Sheikh Mujibur Rehman, the founder of Bangladesh, was tragically assassinated alongside 18 members of his family by military officials amidst severe political unrest. This horrifying event marked a dark chapter in the country’s history.
Fast forward to 2024, just ten days shy of the 49th anniversary of this brutal massacre, Bangladesh finds itself in another intense political crisis. Sheikh Hasina, Mujibur Rehman’s daughter, landed in India on Monday after fleeing Dhaka amid ongoing protests. According to a source close to the Bangladesh Army, she is expected to leave for London after arriving in India.
This moment serves as a poignant reminder of the crucial support extended to Hasina by the Indira Gandhi government during a similar crisis nearly five decades ago. At the time of the assassination, Hasina was in Europe, and her sister conveyed the devastating news. India, among the few nations willing to assist, offered her and her family asylum.
The Indira Gandhi administration provided Hasina with political asylum, allowing her to stay at a residence on Pandara Road in New Delhi for the next six years. In a 2022 interview, Hasina disclosed that for security reasons, her family members adopted different identities during this period.
Upon her return from Europe, Indira Gandhi personally met with Sheikh Hasina. The Indian government also arranged employment for MA Wazed Miah, Hasina’s husband, to support the family.
Hasina recounted the hardships faced by her young children during their six-year exile. By the 1980s, the situation began to shift. The Awami League declared Hasina their leader in her absence, and in May 1981, she concluded her stay in India. She was first elected as Bangladesh’s Prime Minister in 1996.
Her political journey saw highs and lows, including being ousted by Begum Khaleda Zia in 2001. However, Hasina made a remarkable comeback in January 2024, winning the 12th parliamentary elections and beginning her fourth consecutive term as Bangladesh’s Prime Minister.
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