New Book On Bangladesh Reveals How A 1:30 PM Call From India Saved Sheikh Hasina’s Life | Exclusive

Last Updated:November 07, 2025, 10:07 IST

This revelation comes in a yet-to-be-released book, 'Inshallah Bangladesh: The Story of an Unfinished Revolution' written by Deep Halder, Jaideep Mazumdar, and Sahidul Hasan Khokon

Had Hasina not received that call at 1.30 pm on 5th August, 2024 — the day she left Bangladesh — she could very well have been assassinated like her father. (IMAGE: AFP)

Former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina — who escaped 20 minutes before mobs barged into Ganabhaban in Dhaka — could have stayed back and faced the mob had she not received a telephone call from India that made her board the chopper in the afternoon for a cargo flight that would eventually take her to India, where she is in exile right now. Had Hasina not received that call at 1.30 pm on 5th August 2024 — the day she left Bangladesh — she could very well have been assassinated like her father, with a huge crowd just two kilometres away by then.

This sensational revelation comes in a yet-to-be-released book, ‘Inshallah Bangladesh: The Story of an Unfinished Revolution‘ written by Deep Halder, Jaideep Mazumdar, and Sahidul Hasan Khokon and published by Juggernaut.

While Indian aviation authorities had already permitted any aircraft carrying the Bangladesh prime minister to enter Indian airspace, the book claims even as late as 1.30 pm on 5th August 2024, Bangladesh Army Chief General Waker-uz-Zaman, along with the Air Force and Navy Chief, failed to convince “adamant" Hasina who tried to “implore her sister" Sheikh Rehana to persuade her. Even a call was made to Hasina’s son Sajeeb Wajeed who lives in the United States, who had a chat with Hasina to “fly to India", even as the frenzied mob was advancing to Ganabhaban. But Hasina said she would “rather die than flee her country".

But what changed?

In a minute, a call came from someone who is not identified in the book but described as “a top official in India whom Sheikh Hasina knew well". What was the conversation about? “It was a short call. The official told Sheikh Hasina that it was already too late, and if she didn’t leave Gonobhaban immediately, she would be killed. He also told her that she should live to fight another day," is how the call is narrated.

She was taken aback by the blunt message. She took another half an hour to make up her mind to live to fight another day.

A blunt message that Hasina seemed to have trusted more than her blood, at that very moment when a decision would mean life or death.

Hasina requested to record a speech before leaving, which was denied by the service Chiefs, given anytime the mob was about to crash into Ganabhaban.

Sheikh Rehana, the sister who tried to convince Hasina, pulled her into an SUV to whisk them to the helipad. Just two suitcases with clothes accompanied them to Delhi. At 2.23 pm, the chopper took off from Ganabhaban and landed at Tejgaon air base at 2.35 pm.

“The aircraft took off from Tejgaon at 2.42 p.m. into the overcast skies, broke through the cloud cover and entered Indian airspace over Malda in West Bengal after about twenty minutes. The take-off coincided with another short spell of showers," narrates the book.

Later that day, which began as early as 4 am for Hasina, the C 170 J landed at Hindon Airbase, where she was welcomed by India’s Defence Advisor Ajit Doval and taken to an undisclosed location in Delhi for her safety.

News world New Book On Bangladesh Reveals How A 1:30 PM Call From India Saved Sheikh Hasina’s Life | Exclusive

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