Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has formally sought a new passport and National Identity Card (NID) from the Bangladesh Embassy in New Delhi as part of preparations for her planned return to Bangladesh in December.

The request marks her first direct communication with Bangladeshi authorities since she fled to India in August 2024 following the mass uprising that brought an end to her 15-year rule.

According to reports, her legal representatives at London-based Matrix Chambers submitted a letter to Preeti Rahman, the acting High Commissioner at Bangladesh’s embassy in New Delhi, asking for the issuance of fresh documents after her previous passport and NID were reportedly revoked by the interim authorities.

In the letter, her lawyers wrote: "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 legal team also urged officials to process the applications "expeditiously", citing Hasina’s Bangladeshi nationality and obligations arising under international human rights instruments.

The move is widely viewed as the clearest indication yet that Hasina intends to follow through on her stated plan to return from exile. Her aides have said she plans to surrender before a court upon her return, with the exact date expected to be announced once the required formalities are completed.

However, her anticipated return is expected to generate fresh political and legal controversy. Bangladesh’s war-crimes court sentenced Hasina to death in absentia in November 2025 over allegations that she ordered a deadly crackdown on the student-led uprising that ultimately led to her downfall. She has consistently denied the allegations while residing in India.

The unrest that toppled her government began in June 2024 as protests against a controversial public-sector job quota system. Demonstrations intensified after the High Court reinstated a reservation policy allocating 30 per cent of government posts to descendants of veterans of the 1971 Liberation War.

What began as student-led demands for merit-based recruitment quickly evolved into a broader nationwide movement fuelled by concerns over unemployment, allegations of excessive force by security personnel, governance issues and claims of corruption.

The government’s response, including a deadly crackdown on protesters, further escalated tensions and transformed the demonstrations into a nationwide campaign demanding Hasina’s resignation.

On 5 August 2024, as large crowds marched towards Dhaka, Hasina resigned and departed Bangladesh aboard a military aircraft, taking refuge in India.

Since her removal from office, the Awami League, formerly the country’s largest political party, has been banned. A number of senior party leaders and supporters have been arrested, while others have relocated abroad, including to India.

Hasina’s continued presence in India has remained a sensitive issue in relations between New Delhi and Dhaka. Bangladesh formally requested her extradition in December 2024, while India has stated that the request is being examined in accordance with established legal procedures.

Additional reports indicate that Bangladeshi authorities continue to favour extradition under the bilateral treaty between the two countries rather than a voluntary return using newly issued travel documents.

At the same time, observers note that Hasina’s proposed return could either deepen political divisions within Bangladesh or help resolve a prolonged diplomatic dispute linked to her exile.

The passport application therefore represents not only a personal legal step for the former prime minister but also a potentially significant development in Bangladesh’s evolving political landscape and its relations with India.

ANI