LONDON: Former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled the country on a military helicopter on Monday after resigning, has applied for political asylum in the UK, The Independent reported on Tuesday.
She arrived in neighboring India on Monday shortly before Bangladeshi protesters stormed her residence.
Hasina had ruled Bangladesh for 15 years and was present in the country’s politics for more than two decades.
Widespread protests broke out last month over a longstanding quota system for government jobs. More than 400 people have died amid violent repression by government security forces.
Hasina arrived in New Delhi with her sister and requested asylum from the UK government. Her sister Sheikh Rehana, who holds British citizenship, is the mother of UK Labour MP Tulip Siddiq. Hasina has yet to receive a response from the UK government, sources said.
British Foreign Secretary David Lammy has called for a UN-led probe into the violence in Bangladesh, and decried the “tragic” loss of lives.
“All sides now need to work together to end the violence, restore calm, deescalate the situation and prevent any further loss of life,” he said in a statement.
“The people of Bangladesh deserve a full and independent UN-led investigation into the events of the past few weeks.”
The UK and Indian governments have yet to issue an official statement on the protests and Hasina’s resignation.
On Monday, a White House spokesperson said: “The US has long called for respecting democratic rights in Bangladesh, and we urge that the interim government formation be democratic and inclusive. We commend the (Bangladeshi) army for the restraint they have showed today.”
In response to Hasina’s resignation, the EU called for an “orderly and peaceful transition” toward a new Bangladeshi government.
