Sheikh Hasina, who stepped down from the post of the Prime Minister of Bangladesh and fled the turmoil-hit nation today, may not return to politics, her son and former Chief Advisor has said. Disappointed by the strong public sentiment against her government despite her efforts to transform the country, she has decided to quit, Sajeeb Wajed Joy said at BBC’s World Service’s Newshour program.

“She has turned Bangladesh around. When she took over power it was considered a failing state. It was a poor country. Until today it was considered one of the rising tigers of Asia,” Mr Joy said.

Over the last month, more than 300 people died in Bangladesh amid violent protests, which though started over quota, shortly transformed into a call for the Prime Minister to step down.

Sheikh Hasina’s critics accused her not just of corruption and nepotism but also high-handedness and curtailing of civil liberties. These, many alleged, overshadowed the economic progress and development she had brought about.

Her son rejected allegations that the government had been heavy-handed in dealing with the protestors as well.

“You have had policemen beaten to death – 13 just yesterday. So what do you expect the police to do when mobs are beating people to death?” he said. Sheikh Hasina had been considering resigning since Sunday and had left the country for her own safety after her family insisted, he added.

The sudden departure of Sheikh Hasina as Prime Minister and her exit from Bangladesh has left India facing a multitude of uncertainties. For over 15 years, Hasina had been New Delhi’s most steadfast partner, and during her tenure, the two nations experienced an unparalleled level of cooperation across various domains, including “cross-border trade and transit arrangements to security cooperation and people-to-people exchanges.”

Bangladesh faced significant upheaval as Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and left the country after severe protests and a brutal crackdown that resulted in hundreds of deaths. General Waker-Uz-Zaman announced the military’s takeover of the government, promising justice and urging calm. Hasina has reportedly fled to India, marking a dramatic end to her tenure. Hasina’s son said that there will be no come back for her.