Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has sought a fresh passport and national identity card (NID) from the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi, signalling her intention to return to Bangladesh in December after more than two years in exile in India.
The request was submitted on Monday, November 9, through her London-based legal representatives at Matrix Chambers. In a letter addressed to Preeti Rahman, the acting High Commissioner of Bangladesh in New Delhi, Hasina's lawyers requested that fresh travel and identity documents be issued to their client as soon as possible.
According to the letter, her existing Bangladeshi passport and national identity card were reportedly revoked by the previous interim government and relevant authorities. Her legal team argued that Hasina remains a Bangladeshi citizen and is entitled to the necessary documents under applicable national and international legal obligations.
Plans to return and face court proceedings
Hasina has indicated that she intends to return to Bangladesh and surrender before a court. Her aides have said that the exact date of her return will be announced after the necessary formalities are completed.
She has been living in India since August 5, 2024, when a student-led uprising forced her government from power after weeks of violent protests. Her departure brought an end to more than 15 years of uninterrupted rule since 2009.
However, her proposed return comes with serious legal complications. In November 2025, Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal sentenced her to death in absentia over crimes against humanity linked to the deadly crackdown on protesters during the 2024 uprising. Hasina has denied wrongdoing and rejected the legitimacy of the proceedings. The United Nations estimated that up to 1,400 people were killed during the unrest.
India-Bangladesh relations in focus
The passport request also comes amid continuing diplomatic tensions between New Delhi and Dhaka. Bangladesh has repeatedly sought Hasina's extradition from India under the bilateral extradition treaty. India has said the request is being examined through established legal procedures.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh's Awami League, which Hasina once led, remains banned, and several of its senior leaders are either in prison or living outside the country.
Her possible return could therefore have significant consequences for Bangladesh's domestic politics and its relationship with India.
For now, the passport application remains a crucial step towards her stated December return. However, whether the Bangladeshi authorities approve her request and how the legal proceedings unfold remain uncertain.
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