Former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s stay in India after her ouster in the August 2024 uprising has reignited political debate. A leaked audio message from fugitive Awami League leader Mohammad A Arafat revealed Hasina describing her situation as a “banbas,” or exile, expressing sympathy for party members still in Bangladesh. The report recounts that before fleeing, Hasina ensured the safe departure of several close relatives and officials, while many grassroots activists now face hardship.

The article draws parallels between Hasina and Sikkim’s Lhendup Dorji, portraying both as figures who allegedly served Indian interests. It notes that during Hasina’s 15-and-a-half-year rule, Bangladesh signed numerous agreements with India, many said to have favored Indian interests. Former army chief Iqbal Karim Bhuiyan criticized India’s continued support for Hasina, calling it interference in Bangladesh’s sovereignty and warning of rising bilateral tension.

The comparison between Hasina and Dorji resurfaced during the funeral of BNP leader Khaleda Zia, where her past remarks labeling Hasina as “India’s agent” were replayed, amplifying the controversy over Hasina’s political legacy and her current refuge in India.