Ousted Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Requests New Passport to Facilitate Return

Ousted Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has requested a new passport and identity card so she can return from self-imposed exile in India, according to a letter reviewed by Reuters. This marks her first direct communication of this nature since fleeing the country in 2024 following a deadly uprising that ended her long tenure in power.

The formal request represents the clearest step by Hasina to act on her stated plan to return to Bangladesh. Aides stated that a specific date for her return would be announced once various formalities are completed. Hasina has previously stated her intention to surrender before a court. In November of the previous year, Bangladesh's war-crimes court sentenced her to death in her absence for ordering a crackdown on the student-led uprising, though she has consistently denied the charges from exile.

Hasina's lawyers at the London-based firm Matrix Chambers addressed the request to Preeti Rahman, acting high commissioner at Bangladesh's embassy in Delhi. The communication noted the reported revocation of her existing Bangladeshi passport and National Identity Card by the interim government and other authorities. The letter requested that the applications be processed expeditiously on the basis of her Bangladeshi nationality and in accordance with obligations under international human rights instruments.

Representatives and spokespeople for Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in Dhaka, as well as the high commission in Delhi, did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the application.

Hasina's Awami League party was previously the country's largest political organization before it was banned following her departure from office. Many of her party colleagues remain jailed or in self-imposed exile across India and other regions.

Having governed Bangladesh for 20 years across multiple terms as prime minister, Hasina maintains support among sections of the population. Her potential return could introduce fresh political and legal tensions as the government in Dhaka works to restore stability following more than two years of upheaval. Conversely, a managed return and resolution could impact Bangladesh's diplomatic ties with India, which experienced strain after New Delhi granted her refuge.

"Political stability and regulatory clarity are foundational for business confidence, trade, and cross-border investment in the South Asian region. Developments involving leadership transitions and legal proceedings in neighboring nations carry significant weight for regional market sentiment and diplomatic stability, which directly influence macroeconomic conditions for businesses operating across borders." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes