Ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Seeks Passport for Return

Bangladesh’s ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina has applied for a fresh passport and identity card, signalling her intention to travel back from India where she has resided in self-imposed exile for two years. The former leader has stated her plan to land in December and surrender before a court in Bangladesh, with aides noting that an exact schedule will be announced following the completion of administrative formalities.

Hasina was removed from power following a widespread, student-led mass movement that erupted after the Supreme Court reinstated a controversial job quota system favouring descendants of the nation's liberation fighters. During the 2024 unrest, United Nations estimates suggest up to 1,400 individuals may have lost their lives during security crackdowns ordered by the administration. Consequently, a war crimes court in Bangladesh sentenced her to death in absentia last November.

In her formal communication to the Bangladeshi government, routed through Reuters, Hasina requested that her paperwork be processed swiftly based on her citizenship rights. However, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed stated that the foreign and law ministries are currently reviewing the application to determine its legal validity and whether she qualifies for the documents. Meanwhile, Junior Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir maintained that Dhaka intends to pursue an extradition through an active bilateral treaty with India, though Indian authorities have thus far declined to transfer her.

Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina seeks new identity documents to facilitate a planned return to Bangladesh in December.

## Ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Plans December Return

Hasina is the daughter of the country's founding figure and first president, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and previously held office from 1996 to 2001, followed by a tenure from 2009 until her ouster. Her potential arrival introduces significant legal and political complications for the current administration.

Why it matters

The prospective homecoming of the former leader could influence ongoing efforts by the government to stabilise the nation and its economy following two years of political turbulence. Because she maintains a base of support among segments of the population, her return poses fresh challenges for national stability and diplomatic relations between Bangladesh and India.