Shah-e-Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina, the then Prime Minister of Bangladesh, escaped the nation in a covert military operation on August 5, 2024, amidst brutal mass protests. Her escape, witnessed by various sources and aircraft route analysis, brought her 15-year unbroken tenure as head of government to an abrupt end. The Bangladesh International Crimes Tribunal (ICT-BD) On Sunday officially indicted two top officials and Hasina on charges of crimes against humanity, such as mass killings, command responsibility, and political violence. The live telecast of the tribunal trials for the first time in the nation's history followed a bloodbath in which more than 1,500 people were killed and 25,000 wounded.

Was It A 'Shah-E-Exit'?

Hasina's exit was planned in detail. As reported by The Daily, civil aviation sources said that a Bangladesh Air Force C-130J jet for "training" lifted off from the Bangabandhu Air Base in Dhaka at 3:00 PM on August 5. The flight had filed a false flight plan to Kolkata to mislead people but then headed northwest and landed at the Hindon Air Force Station in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh. Crucially, the aircraft switched off its transponders mid-air, making it invisible to radar systems in Dhaka and Kolkata. It reactivated communication only near the Bengal border, allowing Kolkata ATC to assume contact as per standard procedure. It was given a 'squawk code' of 4131, the unique four-digit code assigned by an Air Traffic Control, and this was shared with Kolkata ATC, the 'destination'.

Protests And The Collapse Of 15-Year Regime

The protests, which started in July 2024 due to job quota reforms, soon became a national anti-government protest. The students, workers, and members of civil society blamed Hasina for authoritarianism, nepotism, and crackdowns on dissent using force. Crowds attacked government buildings and ransacked the presidential palace on the day she left, and others vandalized statues of her father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. There were reports of a chaotic scene in central Dhaka as protesters occupied major installations. Her son, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, later explained to BBC World Service that Hasina had "left for her own safety" and would not resume politics.

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Bangladesh Seeks Extradition, India Holds Its Ground

On December 12, 2024, Bangladesh's caretaker government dispatched a Note Verbale to New Delhi, formally asking for the extradition of Hasina to stand trial. The request was confirmed by interim Foreign Minister Touhid Hossain, who claimed, "Bangladesh wants her back here for the judicial process." India, on the other hand, has invoked the India-Bangladesh Extradition Treaty, which permits denial of extradition on grounds of offense being of "political character." The Ministry of External Affairs had acknowledged the request but remained uncommitted thus far. Diplomatic pressure between Dhaka and New Delhi, meanwhile, has mounted, especially amid growing attacks against minorities in Bangladesh. Indian officials, including Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, have brought up their concerns at bilateral meetings.

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To date, Sheikh Hasina is still in India, allegedly under close security. The interim Bangladeshi government headed by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus is still insisting that she come back to the country to face trial, for which the tribunal has already issued warrants for her arrest and some of her former cabinet colleagues. Whether or not the previous Prime Minister ever sets foot in Bangladesh again and faces justice is yet to be determined. But one thing is for sure, her dramatic escape and subsequent charges have altered Bangladesh's political scenario.