In what looks like her clearest move yet to return home, ousted Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina asked for a fresh passport and National Identity Card on Monday. She has been living in self-imposed exile in India since fleeing her country in 2024.
According to a letter seen by Reuters, London-based lawyers at Matrix Chambers sent the formal request on her behalf to Preeti Rahman, who serves as acting high commissioner at the Bangladeshi embassy in Delhi.
Plans to surrender
Hasina previously revealed she aims to travel back to Bangladesh in December to surrender before a court. Her aides noted on Monday that the exact return date will be made public once all formalities are done.
The former premier faces serious legal trouble back home. In November last year, a war-crimes court handed her a death sentence in her absence over accusations of ordering a deadly crackdown on student protesters. Hasina has denied these charges from exile.
“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”Hasina's lawyers at London-based Matrix Chambers
Tense political scene
Her Awami League party, once the largest in Bangladesh, is now completely banned. Many colleagues from her party are either behind bars or also living in exile in India and other countries.
Hasina led Bangladesh for 20 years across several terms and still retains loyal backing among certain groups. However, authorities in Dhaka under Prime Minister Tarique Rahman did not immediately offer any comments on the latest development.
What happens next
Her aides said the date of her return to surrender before a court would be announced once various formalities were completed.
