Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has sought a new passport and national identity card from the Bangladesh Embassy in New Delhi, signalling preparations for her proposed return to the country in December. The request comes more than two years after she fled Bangladesh following the student-led uprising that ended her 15-year rule.
According to Reuters, Hasina’s lawyers at London-based Matrix Chambers sent a letter to Preeti Rahman, the acting high commissioner at Bangladesh’s embassy in New Delhi, requesting fresh travel and identity documents. The letter said her existing passport and national identity card had reportedly been revoked by the interim government and other authorities.
The lawyers also urged the embassy to process the applications quickly, citing Hasina’s Bangladeshi nationality and international human rights obligations. This is her first such communication with the embassy since she left Bangladesh in August 2024.
Hasina Plans to Return and Surrender Before Court
Hasina has previously told Reuters that she intends to return to Bangladesh in December and surrender before a court. Her aides said the exact date would be announced after the necessary formalities are completed.
Her proposed return comes amid serious legal challenges. Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal sentenced her to death in absentia in November 2025 for crimes against humanity linked to the deadly crackdown on protesters during the 2024 uprising. Hasina has denied the charges.
Dhaka Insists on Extradition
Bangladesh has maintained that Hasina should be handed over through the extradition mechanism under the India-Bangladesh treaty rather than being issued fresh travel documents.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir reiterated Dhaka’s position, saying the government wants her extradition and that the matter should be handled through established legal procedures.
Hasina’s presence in India has remained a sensitive issue in bilateral relations since her government was toppled in 2024. Her proposed return and the competing positions on extradition could add further diplomatic and political complications between New Delhi and Dhaka.
The passport request does not confirm that Hasina’s return has been approved or that a date has been finalised.
