Bangladesh Rejects Passport Request for Deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina

Bangladesh has rejected a request for a new passport from deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The 78-year-old leader, currently living in self-imposed exile in India, has stated plans to return home in December.

Hasina fled to India in August 2024 following a student-led uprising that ended her long tenure. Her government was accused of crushing dissent and dismantling democratic checks and balances, allegations she denies. Following her departure, an interim government revoked her passport and national identity document.

On November 9, her lawyers requested new travel documents from the Bangladesh embassy in New Delhi. The emailed letter asked for papers to be issued expeditiously, citing her Bangladeshi nationality and obligations under international human rights instruments. However, the Bangladesh government rejected the request, stating it does not provide passports to terrorists and urging New Delhi to hand her over under an extradition treaty.

Humaiun Kobir, the state minister for foreign affairs, questioned the nature of her return, asking if she should be treated as an ordinary commercial traveler. Meanwhile, India's foreign ministry has not responded to requests for comment regarding the extradition request.

A Bangladeshi court sentenced Hasina to death in November of last year for ordering a deadly crackdown on protesters in 2024, an event estimated by the UN to have killed up to 1,400 people. Since her ouster, a ban has kept her Awami League party from competing in the general election held in February, bringing the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, to power.

Political analysts note that the government of Bangladesh wants to avoid turning Hasina's return into a political spectacle that could galvanise her supporters. The Awami League has maintained that Hasina will return in December with or without documents, although the party has not specified how she would cross the border if denied papers. Aides have indicated she will soon detail her plans.

In a July telephone interview with Reuters, Hasina expressed awareness that authorities might arrest or kill her upon return, but stated a desire to return voluntarily and surrender. She emphasized the importance of standing by party workers facing difficulties in the absence of their leaders.

The return of a deeply polarizing figure to the country of more than 175 million people poses significant challenges. Bangladesh has been attempting to recover from the political and economic turmoil surrounding her ouster, with living costs raised and fuel and power supplies strained by conflicts in West Asia. Any large public show of support for Hasina risks triggering renewed tension and unrest.

"Political stability is a fundamental prerequisite for economic growth and investor confidence, particularly in manufacturing and export-driven economies like Bangladesh, the world's second-biggest garment exporter. As businesses navigate supply chain pressures, fuel shortages, and rising living costs, political uncertainty and leadership transitions introduce significant commercial risks. Markets and investors closely monitor regulatory stability, border security, and diplomatic relations during periods of major political transition." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes