A year since the Bangladesh coup that forced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to flee to India, new reports shed light on the series of events that occurred at her official residence, Ganabhaban, on August 4 and 5, 2024. The account of what happened that day was detailed in the investigation of the International Criminal Tribunal, from the deposition of the then police chief, and multiple sources present at Ganabhaban.
Hasina, who was reluctant to relinquish power even as her government stood on the brink of collapse following the mass uprising, changed her decision after one key phone call from her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, according to the report that appeared in Bangladesh.24live.
The report added that Hasina insisted on clinging to power even when the top brass of the intelligence agencies and law enforcement agencies informed her of the situation in the streets of Dhaka. The Awami League leader favoured supressing the movement despite the word that the situation was going out of control.
A day before the collapse, several meetings were held at Ganabhaban. The then-IGP Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun said that the National Committee on Security was informed about the unfolding situation. “We tried to give the government accurate information. The government was not ready to listen to its weaknesses”, the IGP said.
At night, Sheikh Hasina's security advisor, Major General (retd) Tariq Siddique, raised the issue of resignation, which triggered Hasina. “Whatever happens, I will not give up power,” she reportedly said. She also ordered the army chief to “strengthen his spine” and suppress the protests. Tariq Siddique, however, supported her and even hinted at further suppression. “If the army shoots and kills some people, the protests will be suppressed,” Tariq reportedly said. But, the air force chief present at the meeting strongly protested, saying, 'This man has sunk you and will sink you further.'
The situation was still tense on the morning of August 5. Military officials arrived at Ganabhaban and explained the overall situation to Sheikh Hasina and requested her to resign. They informed her that millions were marching towards Ganabhaban due to the 'Long March to Dhaka' programme, and the time was running out quickly. But Sheikh Hasina was adamant.
When Sheikh Hasina refused to give in, top military officials contacted her son, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, over the phone. They told Joy that there was no other way to save his mother's life than to resign. The decision had to be made now, they said. Joy spoke to his mother and, at her urging, Sheikh Hasina finally agreed to relinquish power.
After the decision to resign was taken, Sheikh Hasina was given just 45 minutes to leave. Hasina and her sister, Sheikh Rehana, drove from Ganabhaban to the nearby trade fair grounds under tight security. From there, they were taken by helicopter to the Bangabandhu Airbase of the Air Force in Kurmitola.
They then departed for India in a C-130 transport aircraft of the Air Force. The aircraft landed at Hindon Air Base in Ghaziabad near New Delhi at 5:36 pm on August 5.
