A pivotal phone call from India is credited with averting a potentially tragic outcome for Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during last year’s widespread unrest. The dramatic events of August 5 unfolded as youth-led protests spiraled into violent chaos, with mobs advancing on the Prime Minister’s official residence in Dhaka. At the peak of this crisis, while inside Ganabhaban, Sheikh Hasina received a crucial call from a senior Indian official. This conversation, occurring just minutes before her residence was threatened, prompted her decision to evacuate. The Prime Minister reportedly escaped by helicopter approximately 20 minutes before the mob arrived, subsequently boarding a cargo flight that transported her to India. This intervention highlights the precariousness of the situation, suggesting that without the timely communication from India, Hasina might have suffered a fate similar to her father, the nation’s founder.
Despite the urgent pleas from Bangladesh’s military chiefs, including the Army, Air Force, and Navy leaders, Hasina was initially resolute in her decision to remain in the country, famously stating she would “rather die than flee.” Her son, Sajeeb Wajed, also urged her to seek refuge in India. However, a direct and firm message from an identified Indian official reportedly swayed her resolve, leading to her swift departure. The book details that her request to deliver a recorded speech before leaving was denied due to the imminent danger of Ganabhaban being stormed. She eventually reached India, landing at Ghaziabad’s Hindon Airbase, where she has reportedly been residing.
