US revokes Sheikh Hasina’s visa

The United States has revoked former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s visa after she fled her country amid violent protests, as per sources close to the US Department of State.

Hasina left Bangladesh on Monday afternoon and is currently residing in India, from where she is expected to go to the UK.

Sheikh Hasina Wazed arrived in India’s Hindon airbase with her sister Sheikh Rehana yesterday evening, hours after stepping down as the prime minister following massive violent protests.

She was shifted to an unspecified location that has been put under tight security, they added.

On Tuesday, Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar told Parliament that Hasina reached out to India for safe passage following her abrupt resignation.

Hasina’s exit came after hundreds of people were killed in a crackdown on demonstrations that began as protests against preferential job quotas and swelled into a movement demanding her downfall.

General Waker-Uz-Zaman, Bangladesh’s army chief, announced Hasina’s resignation in a televised address and said an interim government would be formed.

Meanwhile, the US government commended Bangladesh’s army on Monday for its “restraint” and urged the democratic formation of an interim government after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled the South Asian country.

“The United States has long called for respecting democratic rights in Bangladesh, and we urge that the interim government formation be democratic and inclusive. We commend the Army for the restraint they have showed today,” a White House spokesperson said on Monday.