Sheikh Hasina Requests New Passport as Bangladesh Return Plan Takes Shape
Bangladesh's former prime minister has applied for travel and identity documents through her country's mission in India, but her proposed return remains uncertain.
NEW DELHI, INDIA — Former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has requested a new passport and national identity card as part of preparations for a possible return to Bangladesh after more than two years in exile in India.
The request, made public on Monday, November 9, 2026, was submitted through the Bangladesh diplomatic mission in New Delhi. Representatives for Hasina say she intends to return in December once the necessary arrangements are complete.
Documents and legal uncertainty
Bangladeshi officials are reviewing whether the former leader is eligible for the requested documents. No confirmed date for her return has been announced, and a request for a passport is not evidence that travel permission has been granted.
Hasina left Bangladesh in August 2024 after mass protests ended her long period in office. She has remained in India as political and legal proceedings continued in Bangladesh.
A Bangladeshi tribunal sentenced Hasina to death in absentia in November 2025 over allegations relating to the government's response to the 2024 unrest. She denies wrongdoing and contests the legitimacy of the proceedings.
Political implications
Her proposed return could test Bangladesh's political and judicial institutions, particularly given divisions over her legacy and the future role of her party.
Bangladesh has sought her extradition from India, but the request has not resulted in her transfer. A voluntary return could create different legal and security questions.
The application remains under consideration. GhanaCurrent will avoid describing a December return as confirmed unless the date and arrangements are formally established.
Relevant institutions: Bangladesh High Commission in India, https://newdelhi.mofa.gov.bd/ and Government of Bangladesh, https://bangladesh.gov.bd/
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