Sheikh Hasina seeks new passport, identity card to facilitate return to Bangladesh

The request is reportedly the clearest indication yet that Hasina is taking steps to act on her stated intention to return in DecemberNEW DELHI: Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has formally sought a new passport and national identity card (NID), taking a step towards her planned return from India in December.The information comes from a Monday letter sent by Hasina’s lawyers to the acting high commissioner at Bangladesh's embassy in Delhi, Preeti Rahman, Reuters reported.Hasina's lawyers at London-based Matrix Chambers requested the issuance of fresh documents. They cited the reported cancellation of her existing passport and NID by Bangladesh's interim government and other authorities."In view of the reported revocation of her existing Bangladeshi passport and National Identity Card (NID) by the Interim Government and other authorities, I respectfully request that you take the necessary steps to issue a new Bangladeshi passport and National Identity Card for our client," the lawyers wrote.The letter urged the authorities to process the applications "expeditiously", citing Hasina's Bangladeshi nationality and the country's "obligations arising under international human rights instruments".According to Reuters, the request is the clearest indication yet that Hasina is taking steps to act on her stated intention to return in December, more than two years after a deadly uprising forced her from power. Her return could reignite political and legal tensions as Bangladesh attempts to restore stability and her Awami League party remains banned.Hasina intends to return and surrender before a court. Her aides said on Monday that the date would beannounced after the completion of various formalities.Last week, the exiled leader the Associated Press she would prefer dying in her own land, among her own people.“If death is my destiny, I would rather die on the soil of my own country, among my own people,” Hasina said.Death sentence and legal proceedingsIn November 2025, Bangladesh's war-crimes tribunal sentenced Hasina to death in absentia for ordering a crackdown on the student-led uprising. She has denied the charges, rejected the verdict and questioned the legitimacy of the trial.The crackdown killed hundreds of protesters and left thousands injured. According to United Nations data cited by the Associated Press, nearly 1,400 people were killed during the unrest.Bangladesh has repeatedly sought Hasina's extradition from India. New Delhi has said the request is being examined through legal channels.Political implications of her returnHasina's Awami League was Bangladesh's largest political party before it was banned following her removal from office. Several of its leaders and members have since been jailed, while others have gone into self-imposed exile in India and elsewhere.Having served as Prime Minister for 20 years across multiple terms, Hasina retains support among sections of the population. Her return could deepen political divisions as the country continues to deal with the aftermath of the upheaval.It could also have implications for Bangladesh's strained relationship with India, which deteriorated sharply after New Delhi gave the former prime minister refuge.