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An expert familiar with the British government’s policy on providing refuge said, “The UK has a proud record of providing protection for people who need it.”
“However, there is no provision within our immigration rules for someone to be allowed to travel to the UK to seek asylum or temporary refuge,” he said.
“Those who need international protection should claim asylum in the first safe country they reach’? That is the fastest route to safety,” he said.
The people in the know said Hasina has apprised New Delhi about her possible future steps.
It is also learnt that Hasina has family members in Finland as well, which is why she also contemplated leaving for the northern European country.
While saying that Hasina’s travel plans have hit certain issues and she may stay in the country for the next couple of days, the people also described the situation as dynamic with no definitive path or clarity on the matter.
The 76-year-old, who ruled the South Asian country with an iron fist for 15 years, resigned as the prime minister following the massive protests that initially began as an agitation against a job quota scheme but weeks later morphed into a mass movement demanding her ouster from power.
The controversial quota system provided for 30 per cent reservations in civil services jobs for the families of veterans who fought the 1971 liberation war.
Hasina’s Awami League retained power in the parliamentary election in January that was boycotted by the opposition parties.
The former Bangladesh prime minister left her official residence Ganabhavan in a military chopper to an airbase, the sources said.
From the airbase, she flew into Hindon in a C-130 military transport aircraft of the Bangladesh Air Force, they said.