Bangladeshi leader Sheikh Hasina landed at the Hindon Air Force base in Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh, about 30 km (19 miles) from Delhi, on Monday evening. Hours earlier, the 76-year-old five-time prime minister had resigned following violent protests over a government jobs quota that left more than 300 people dead.
She was received by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.
According to sources told DailyExpertNews, Sheikh Hasina will leave for London almost immediately.
Sources told news agency ANI that Sheikh Hasina's aircraft – a C-130 military transport aircraft of the Bangladesh Air Force – will be parked near the hangars of the C-17 and C-130J Super Hercules of the Indian Air Force.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been briefed by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on the situation in Bangladesh. There is no word yet on whether Mr Modi will meet Ms Hasina.
Meanwhile, the Bangladeshi military, which gave Sheikh Hasina 45 minutes to step down after her government failed to control violence, has seized power. In a televised address, army chief Gen. Waker-Uz-Zaman said the military would form an “interim government” and told protesters to step down.
READ | Sheikh Hasina resigns after 45-minute warning from Bangladesh army: key developments
“There is a crisis. I met opposition leaders and we decided to form an interim government to govern this country. I take full responsibility and promise to protect your lives and properties. Your demands will be fulfilled. Please stop the violence,” the army chief said.
READ | Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigns, army stages coup amid mass protests
Earlier today, protesters stormed Gonobhaban, the prime minister's residence in Dhaka.
READ | Bangladeshi protesters storm Sheikh Hasina's palace amid violent clashes
Local media estimated that some 400,000 protesters were on the streets, but it was impossible to verify the number. Soldiers and police with armoured vehicles had barricaded the routes to Ms Hasina's office with barbed wire, AFP reporters said, but large crowds flooded the streets and tore down barriers.
But by then the experienced politician had already left.
READ | Bangladeshi protesters storm Sheikh Hasina's palace amid violent clashes
On Sunday alone, 100 people were killed and more than 1,000 injured in clashes between police and protesters, with the death toll since surpassing 300.
The protests began late last month against a quota system that reserves up to 30 percent of government jobs for relatives of veterans of Bangladesh's 1971 war with Pakistan.
READ | 300 dead, Sheikh Hasina flees: Bangladesh's violent protests explained
Since then, they have escalated dramatically, particularly in recent days, resulting in violent clashes between students, police and counter-protesters. Shocking images have emerged of vehicles and buildings on fire and crowds rampaging through the streets.
The protests briefly subsided after the Bangladesh Supreme Court reduced reservations to 5 percent, but they flared up again after student leaders said the government had ignored some of their demands, leading to demands that Sheikh Hasina step down.
India's Border Security Force has been put on high alert along the country's 4,096-km border with Bangladesh, with field commanders ordered to take up “ground” positions and be prepared for any eventuality. Indian Railways has suspended all trains to Bangladesh and Air India has cancelled its two daily flights to Dhaka.
With input from agencies
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