Hasina return blocked at Heathrow

Hasina’s close aide, Abdus Sobhan Golap, who accompanied her to London’s Heathrow Airport, said British Airways officials would not allow her onto the flight, citing security reasons. “She was not allowed to get on the plane,” he said.

Bangladesh media had reported that she would be refused entry and authorities had told airlines not to allow her to board any flight to Bangladesh.

In Dhaka, Hasina’s Awami League party said it plans to fight in court the government ban on her return. “How can a free citizen be barred from coming home? We will challenge this in court,” said Zillur Rahman, a senior Awami League leader. He did not specify when the party will petition the court.

British Airways said in a statement that it — along with other airlines — had been notified by the Civil Aviation Authority in Bangladesh that a passenger had been banned from entering the country. “As a result we’re not able to accept them for travel on BA,” the airline said, without elaborating.

Golap said Hasina argued for an hour and a half with airline officials who showed her documents issued by the Bangladeshi government. “They said there were other passengers on the plane and it was going to be very insecure for her,” Golap said. “They said it was better not to fly.”

Hasina told the airline officials that she wanted to return to fight the allegations against her, Golap said by telephone. “She said ‘I have to go back.”’

Rahman also said the party plans to challenge the arrest warrant issued against Hasina. “She is willing to come back to face the charges against her, but the government is barring her. How can she appear in court if she is not home?” he said.

Many Bangladeshis blame the political rivalry between Hasina and Zia for making the country’s widespread poverty and corruption worse. The interim government hoped forcing them into exile would calm the bitter division between their political camps, which has derailed the country’s fragile democracy.

Hasina, who was prime minister from 1996 to 2001, was charged with murder on April 11 while she was in the United States on a visit. The government on Wednesday accused her of issuing “inflammatory statements” against the country’s military-backed interim government while she was outside the country.

The United News of Bangladesh agency reported that Hasina is now listed as a fugitive.

The murder case involves the deaths of four protesters in a riot in October. The riot broke out at one of a series of demonstrations by her supporters accusing the government of her rival, Zia, of stacking the committee that was supposed to oversee January elections and rigging voter rolls.

D’ARCY DORAN