Sheikh Hasina Seeks Fresh Passport as Bangladesh Return Plan Raises Political and Legal Questions
Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has taken a significant step towards her proposed return to Bangladesh by requesting a new passport and national identity card. Living in India since leaving office in August 2024, Hasina is seeking fresh travel documents as she prepares for a possible return to her home country in December.
The request comes at a politically sensitive moment for Bangladesh. Hasina's departure followed a student-led mass uprising that brought an end to her long political rule. Since then, the country has undergone major political changes, while her legal position and the future of her Awami League party have become central issues in national politics.
The passport request is being viewed as a practical step towards fulfilling her stated intention to return. However, it remains uncertain whether Bangladesh's authorities will issue the documents, particularly because the government has repeatedly demanded her return through the extradition process.
Fresh Passport and Identity Card Requested
Hasina's legal representatives have written to Bangladeshi diplomatic authorities requesting a new passport and national identity card. The application reportedly states that her previous documents were revoked by the authorities following the political change in Bangladesh.
Her legal team has asked officials to process the request quickly, arguing that Hasina remains a Bangladeshi citizen and should be able to access the necessary identity and travel documents.
An aide to Hasina described the request as an important step towards her homecoming. He indicated that she remains determined to return to Bangladesh by December and expects the necessary formalities to move forward.
The development is particularly significant because this is the first major attempt by Hasina to obtain fresh Bangladeshi travel and identity documents since leaving the country in 2024.
A passport would normally help her travel through regular international procedures. However, the situation is complicated by the legal proceedings against her and Bangladesh's demand that India hand her over.
Hasina Wants to Return in December
Hasina has previously expressed her intention to return to Bangladesh in December, despite the possibility of facing arrest and further legal proceedings.
She has indicated that she is prepared to surrender before a court after returning. Her position suggests that she wants to address the legal cases against her within Bangladesh rather than remain indefinitely outside the country.
Her proposed return could become one of the most consequential political developments in Bangladesh since the 2024 uprising.
However, the exact date of her return has not been announced. Her aides have indicated that further details will depend on the completion of necessary formalities.
It is also unclear whether the passport application will receive approval or whether the government will insist on using the extradition mechanism instead.
Bangladesh Government Insists on Extradition
The government in Dhaka has maintained that Hasina should be brought back from India under the existing extradition treaty between the two countries.
Bangladesh's State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Humaiun Kobir, recently rejected the suggestion that a new passport or travel document was necessary for her return. He argued that the government could pursue her handover through established legal and diplomatic procedures.
His position reflects the government's preference for extradition rather than allowing Hasina to return through ordinary travel arrangements.
Dhaka has repeatedly sought her return from India. However, New Delhi has not handed her over, leaving the issue as a continuing source of diplomatic tension between the neighbouring countries.
The latest passport request therefore creates an additional question: whether Hasina's return will be handled as a normal journey by a Bangladeshi citizen or through the formal extradition process demanded by Dhaka.
Legal Challenges Await Her in Bangladesh
Hasina's possible return is complicated by the serious legal cases against her.
In November 2025, Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal sentenced her to death in absentia for crimes against humanity connected to the crackdown on protesters during the 2024 uprising.
The tribunal found her responsible for the violent response to the demonstrations, which resulted in a large number of deaths and injuries. The United Nations has estimated that nearly 1,400 people were killed during the period of unrest.
Hasina has denied wrongdoing and rejected the tribunal's verdict. She has also challenged the legitimacy of the proceedings conducted in her absence.
Her return would therefore bring immediate attention to the country's judicial process, including the question of how authorities would handle her arrest and legal challenges.
The possibility of her appearing before a court could also draw international attention to the fairness of the proceedings, due process and the treatment of political leaders facing serious criminal charges.
Political Landscape Has Changed Since Her Departure
Bangladesh's political environment has changed considerably since Hasina left office on August 5, 2024.
Her Awami League, which had been one of the country's dominant political forces, was barred from participating in the February 2026 election and subsequently remained outside the formal electoral process.
Tarique Rahman, whose family has been a longstanding political rival of Hasina, came to power after winning the election by a decisive margin.
The change in leadership has reshaped the country's political direction. Many Awami League leaders and supporters have faced legal action, while others have left Bangladesh or remained outside the country.
Hasina's return could therefore reopen political divisions that have continued since the uprising. Her supporters may view her homecoming as an opportunity to re-enter the political debate, while opponents are likely to focus on accountability for the violence during her government's final days.
India-Bangladesh Relations Also in Focus
Hasina's presence in India has remained a sensitive issue in relations between New Delhi and Dhaka.
India provided her refuge after she left Bangladesh in 2024. Since then, the Bangladeshi government's requests for her extradition have placed pressure on bilateral relations.
The passport application adds another diplomatic dimension to the situation. If the documents are issued, questions could arise over the arrangements for her departure and the legal implications of her return.
If Bangladesh refuses to issue them, Hasina's proposed homecoming could become more dependent on negotiations between the two governments.
A resolution of the issue could potentially reduce one of the major sources of friction between India and Bangladesh. However, disagreements over extradition, legal proceedings and political accountability may continue to affect relations.
Analysis: A Passport Request With Wider Political Consequences
Hasina's application for a new passport and national identity card is more than an administrative matter. It is connected to her stated intention to return, the legal cases awaiting her and the diplomatic disagreement between India and Bangladesh.
The request also exposes the difference between Hasina's preferred route and Dhaka's position. She is seeking documents that would facilitate her return as a Bangladeshi citizen, while the government wants her transferred through extradition arrangements.
The coming weeks could be important in determining whether her December return plan moves forward. The response to her application, India's position and the legal arrangements in Bangladesh will all influence what happens next.
For now, Hasina has made her intention clear, but obtaining a passport does not guarantee that she will be able to return without legal obstacles. Her possible homecoming could test Bangladesh's political stability, its judicial institutions and its relationship with India at the same time.
Sheikh Hasina Accuses Bangladesh Government of Mass Arrests and Torture, Raises Human Rights Concerns
Bangladesh’s former prime minister Sheikh Hasina has accused the country’s current government of carrying out widespread arrests, searches and torture, intensifying an already contentious political dispute over civil liberties, law enforcement and the future of her banned Awami League party.
In a statement published on the Awami League’s social media account on October 27, Hasina alleged that authorities were detaining people on a large scale, filing false cases and committing serious human rights violations. She also accused the government led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman of attempting to eliminate her party from Bangladesh’s political landscape.
The allegations have not been independently established in their entirety. The reported statement did not itself provide independently verifiable evidence for all the claims, including the number of daily arrests cited by Hasina.
Hasina Claims Thousands Are Being Arrested Daily
Hasina alleged that law enforcement agencies were conducting extensive searches and raids in several parts of Bangladesh, including Gopalganj, a district closely associated with the Awami League.
She claimed that between 5,000 and 7,000 people were being arrested each day. She also alleged that detainees and their family members were facing abuse and that prisons were becoming severely overcrowded.
The scale of the alleged arrests is significant, but the figure has not been independently verified by the information available in the reports reviewed. Confirmation would require reliable detention records, police data, court documents and independent reporting from affected areas.
Hasina called for the protection of fundamental rights and legal safeguards for citizens. Her allegations place renewed attention on how the authorities conduct arrests, handle detainees and ensure that people have access to legal representation.
Political Dispute Deepens Over the Awami League
A central element of Hasina’s criticism is the political status of the Awami League, the party she led for years before her government collapsed in August 2024.
She alleged that the current administration was pursuing a deliberate campaign to prevent the party from participating in Bangladesh’s political life. The Awami League was barred from contesting the February 2026 general election and remains prohibited from operating as a political party under the measures described in recent country assessments.
The exclusion of a major political organisation raises questions about political representation, competition and the ability of its supporters to participate in public life. At the same time, the legal and political proceedings connected to the former government include allegations of serious abuses committed during the 2024 crackdown on protests.
The competing issues make accountability and due process particularly important. Allegations against former officials need to be examined through fair legal proceedings, while any allegations of misconduct by the current authorities also require credible investigation.
Hasina has described the actions against her and her party as politically motivated. Her critics, however, point to the legal cases arising from the former government’s handling of the 2024 protests.
Gopalganj in Focus
Hasina specifically highlighted Gopalganj, alleging that intensive police operations there had made ordinary life increasingly difficult for residents. She claimed that similar practices had spread to other parts of the country.
Her statement also referred to reports of unidentified bodies being found in rivers, canals and wetlands, which she presented as evidence of a wider breakdown in public security.
These are serious allegations that require corroboration from police records, forensic investigations, local authorities and independent human rights monitors. Without such verification, the claims cannot be treated as proof that the alleged incidents are widespread or part of a coordinated government policy.
The situation in Gopalganj is nevertheless relevant to monitoring how security operations affect communities, particularly where political tensions are high. Transparent information about arrests, charges, detention locations and investigations would help establish what has occurred and whether the law has been applied properly.
Economic Problems Also Feature in Hasina’s Criticism
Beyond law enforcement, Hasina accused the government of mishandling Bangladesh’s economy. She cited shortages of gas, electricity, fuel and fertiliser, rising commodity prices, unemployment and the closure of factories.
She also alleged that investment was stagnating and that restrictions on expression and dismissals from employment were adding to public frustration.
These claims reflect issues that can have significant consequences for households and businesses if shortages, price pressures or job losses are widespread. However, the economic assertions in her political statement should be assessed separately against current data on inflation, employment, industrial production, energy supplies and investment.
For the government, reliable economic indicators and clear explanations of its policies would be important in responding to concerns about living costs and employment. For the opposition, substantiated evidence would be necessary to demonstrate the extent of any deterioration and identify its causes.
Hasina’s Legal Position Adds to Bangladesh’s Political Uncertainty
Hasina has been living in India since leaving Bangladesh on August 5, 2024, after student-led protests and a wider political uprising brought down her government.
In November 2025, Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal sentenced her to death in absentia after convicting her of crimes against humanity connected to the crackdown on the 2024 protests. Hasina has rejected the proceedings as politically motivated. Bangladesh has also sought her extradition from India, which has said the request is under legal consideration.
The case remains a major point of tension in Bangladesh’s domestic politics and its relations with India. Hasina’s latest accusations come as her party remains excluded from electoral competition and legal proceedings connected to the former administration continue.
The political dispute is therefore not limited to her allegations against the current government. It also involves questions of accountability for past abuses, the rights of political supporters and the conditions under which political participation can resume.
What the Allegations Could Mean for Bangladesh
The immediate significance of Hasina’s statement will depend on whether independent evidence supports its claims and how the government responds.
If credible documentation establishes arbitrary arrests, torture or unlawful restrictions on political activity, the findings could increase pressure for investigations, judicial review and stronger safeguards for detainees. They could also draw renewed attention from international organisations monitoring human rights and democratic institutions.
If the claims remain unverified, the competing political narratives risk deepening public mistrust without clarifying what is happening on the ground. That uncertainty can make it harder for citizens to distinguish documented abuses from political accusations.
A transparent response would include publishing reliable arrest figures, providing access to detainees and legal counsel, investigating credible allegations of mistreatment, and ensuring that complaints are examined independently.
Bangladesh’s political stability will depend in part on whether allegations of wrongdoing—under both the former and current administrations—are addressed through evidence, fair procedures and accountable institutions rather than political confrontation alone.