Sheikh Hasina Seeks Passport as Plans for Bangladesh Return Emerge

Sheikh Hasina, the former Prime Minister of Bangladesh, has applied for a new passport and identity card as she prepares for a potential return to her country. Hasina, who has lived in India for the past two years, has indicated her intention to come back to Bangladesh in December.

In an exclusive statement to the Reuters news agency, Hasina confirmed her plans to surrender to the Bangladeshi authorities upon her return. Her aides have stated that the specific date for her return will be confirmed as soon as necessary formalities are finalised.

Hasina's exile follows a death sentence handed down in absentia by Bangladesh's war crimes court. This ruling, issued last November, was the result of her alleged involvement in a violent crackdown during protests in 2024, which reportedly led to the deaths of approximately 1,400 people, according to estimates provided by the United Nations.

In a letter to the Bangladeshi government, Hasina requested that her application for travel documents be processed promptly, citing her nationality as the basis for her request. The Home Minister of Bangladesh, Salahuddin Ahmed, stated that the relevant ministries are currently assessing whether there are legal grounds for Hasina’s applications.

Despite calls from some Bangladeshi officials for Hasina's extradition from India, New Delhi has refused these requests. Junior Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir expressed a desire for Hasina to be returned under an existing extradition treaty between the two countries, but the Indian government has not indicated a willingness to comply.

Kobir referred to Hasina as a fugitive and a terrorist, highlighting the complexities of her legal situation. Sheikh Hasina is the daughter of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Bangladesh’s founding leader and first president. She has served as Prime Minister in two separate terms, first from 1996 to 2001 and then from 2009 until her ousting in 2024.

Hasina's potential return is anticipated to reignite various legal and political challenges within Bangladesh. While she still has a support base in the country, her comeback could complicate the government’s attempts to stabilise the nation and its economy following two years of disruption.

The circumstances surrounding her ousting involved mass protests led by students, which were sparked by the Supreme Court reinstating a job quota system favouring the descendants of liberation activists. These events have left a lasting impact on the country’s political landscape.