Sheikh Hasina's Secret Exit: Bangladesh Political Drama Unfolds
In a dramatic turn of events, former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina made a clandestine departure from Dhaka on August 5, 2024, amidst escalating political turmoil. She arrived at Hindon Airport in India. Flightradar24 data revealed that the Bangladesh Air Force aircraft, AJAX1431, became the most tracked plane globally, capturing the attention of over 29,000 observers.
The Escape Plan
The escape was meticulously planned: the Lockheed C-130 Hercules aircraft, designated AJAX1431, took off from Bangabandhu Airbase under the guise of a training flight. To conceal its movements, the aircraft's transponders were disabled until it approached Indian airspace over West Bengal, according to sources cited by The Daily Star.
Flight Path and Reactivation
As AJAX1431 neared Indian airspace, its transponders were reactivated at waypoint BEMAK. The flight path was then altered toward Hindon Air Force Base in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh. This covert exit occurred just 30 minutes before protesters attempted to seize Hasina's official residence, the Gono Bhaban.
Army Chief's Statement
Army Chief General Waker-uz-Zaman admitted he was unaware of Hasina's departure. He acknowledged the potential threat to her life had she remained, stating, "If she had stayed, it could have been a risk to her life. Definitely, nobody would have wanted an extra-judicial killing to have happened. The situation was extremely volatile."