New Delhi, November 9, 2026: Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has formally requested a new Bangladeshi passport and national identity card, marking a significant step towards her proposed return to Bangladesh after more than two years in India.
According to Reuters, lawyers representing Hasina have written to the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi, requesting that fresh identity documents be issued after her existing documents were reportedly revoked following her removal from power in August 2024.
The development comes as Hasina faces a death sentence handed down in her absence by a Bangladeshi tribunal over the deadly crackdown on student-led protests in 2024.
Sheikh Hasina Requests New Passport From Bangladesh Embassy
Hasina’s legal representatives at London-based Matrix Chambers submitted the request to Preeti Rahman, the acting high commissioner at Bangladesh’s diplomatic mission in New Delhi.
The lawyers asked the authorities to issue a new passport and National Identity Card (NID), citing Hasina’s Bangladeshi citizenship.
They also requested that the applications be processed quickly in accordance with relevant international human rights obligations.
Reuters reported that the correspondence marked Hasina’s first formal communication of this kind since she fled Bangladesh in 2024.
Sheikh Hasina Plans Bangladesh Return in December
The former prime minister has indicated that she intends to return to Bangladesh in December 2026.
She has previously said she plans to surrender before a court after returning.
Her aides confirmed on Monday that a specific date would be announced after the necessary formalities were completed.
However, no confirmed return date has been made public, and it remains unclear whether Bangladesh will issue the requested documents.
Why Did Sheikh Hasina Leave Bangladesh?
Sheikh Hasina left Bangladesh on August 5, 2024, following weeks of student-led demonstrations that developed into a nationwide political uprising.
The protests initially focused on government employment quotas but expanded into broader demands for political change.
The unrest resulted in widespread violence and deaths, ultimately bringing an end to Hasina’s government.
She travelled to India, where she has remained since her removal from office.
A United Nations assessment subsequently estimated that as many as 1,400 people were killed during the crackdown and related violence.
Sheikh Hasina Faces Death Sentence in Bangladesh
Hasina’s proposed return comes amid serious legal challenges.
In November 2025, Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal sentenced her to death in absentia after finding her responsible for crimes against humanity connected to the government’s response to the 2024 uprising.
Hasina has denied wrongdoing and challenged the legitimacy of the proceedings.
Her legal situation remains a major obstacle to any return.
If she travels to Bangladesh, she could face detention and further legal proceedings.
Bangladesh Government Demands Extradition
Bangladesh’s government has repeatedly requested Hasina’s extradition from India.
Dhaka maintains that she should be returned through the bilateral extradition treaty rather than by obtaining a new passport.
Bangladesh’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Humaiun Kobir, reiterated the government’s position, arguing that the existing extradition mechanism should be used.
India has not handed Hasina over despite the requests.
The disagreement continues to affect diplomatic relations between the neighbouring countries.
Awami League Remains Banned
Hasina’s Awami League, once Bangladesh’s dominant political party, remains banned from political activity.
Several of its senior leaders have been arrested, while others have left the country.
The party was excluded from Bangladesh’s February 2026 election.
The election brought Tarique Rahman to power as prime minister, marking a major change in the country’s political leadership.
Hasina’s possible return could create renewed tensions between her supporters, political opponents and the government.
Why Is Hasina Seeking a New Passport?
The passport request is significant because Hasina’s earlier travel and identity documents were reportedly revoked after the change of government.
Her lawyers are seeking new documents to facilitate her proposed journey from India.
The application also raises questions about whether Bangladesh will recognise the request while continuing to pursue her extradition.
The submission of an application does not guarantee that a new passport will be issued.
India-Bangladesh Relations Under Spotlight
India provided refuge to Hasina after she fled Bangladesh in August 2024.
Her continued presence in India has remained a sensitive issue in relations between New Delhi and Dhaka.
The Bangladeshi government’s extradition demands have added to diplomatic tensions.
A possible return could change the situation, although the consequences would depend on legal proceedings and political developments in Bangladesh.
Both countries have significant interests in maintaining cooperation on trade, border security and regional stability.
What Happens Next?
The next step will depend on the Bangladesh authorities’ response to Hasina’s passport and identity card applications.
As of the November 9 reporting, no official decision on the request had been confirmed.
Her aides have indicated that travel arrangements and the return date will be announced once formalities are completed.
Even if the documents are issued, significant legal questions surrounding her conviction and potential detention would remain.
Sheikh Hasina’s Return Could Reshape Bangladesh Politics
Hasina’s request for fresh identity documents represents one of the clearest indications that she is preparing to act on her previously announced plan to return home.
The move comes more than two years after the uprising that ended her long tenure as prime minister.
However, the continuing death sentence, demands for extradition and ban on her political party make the situation highly sensitive.
For now, her proposed December return remains a plan rather than a confirmed journey.
Sources: Reuters, Associated Press, India Today — November 9, 2026
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