Bangladesh Politics: Sheikh Hasina Requests New Passport for December Return

Sheikh Hasina, the former prime minister of Bangladesh, has formally requested a replacement passport and national identity card from the country's high commission in London. A letter sent by her UK lawyer on Monday outlines the administrative steps required for her potential return in December, a timeline confirmed by party members living in exile.

The request signals a serious intent to re-enter the country more than two years after mass protests forced her from power in August 2024. If the passport application is denied, an Awami League leader in Kolkata said Hasina plans to seek a travel pass instead. Her legal team is moving quickly to secure the documentation needed for what would be a high-profile repatriation.

The return would likely trigger immediate legal proceedings. A tribunal in Bangladesh convicted Hasina of crimes against humanity in November 2025, imposing a death sentence related to a crackdown on a student uprising that killed an estimated 1,400 people. The current administration regards her as a terrorist and has stated it will only permit her entry through a prisoner exchange acceptable under the extradition treaty with India. The tribunal's chief prosecutor has dismissed her plans as a political stunt.

Diplomatic tensions between Dhaka and New Delhi have intensified over the issue. Bangladesh has repeatedly asked India to extradite Hasina following her conviction, but the Indian government has largely ignored these requests. This standoff has strained bilateral relations, particularly given the close ties that existed between New Delhi and Hasina's former administration. Exiled party figures note that several other senior leaders have already returned to Bangladesh in anticipation of her arrival.

Analysts view the proposed return as a tactic to rebuild support and challenge the government of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. The ruling party, which took power after what it describes as the country's first democratic election in decades, has faced economic inflation and recent protests that led to the closure of garment factories. The Awami League aims to exploit these vulnerabilities while the party remains officially banned and thousands of its members remain in prison.

Recent precedents suggest the risks involved are high. Former MP Mustaque Ahmed Ruhi returned in September and was arrested immediately upon arrival. He now faces prosecution for an alleged murder during the 2024 uprising. Hasina confirmed her intent to return in an email to the Associated Press this week, stating she would prefer to face death in her home country among her own people if that were her fate.