The ousted Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, has reportedly requested a fresh passport and national identity card from the Bangladesh embassy in New Delhi as she prepares to return to her homeland. The application marks her first formal attempt to obtain new travel documents since fleeing the country in August 2024.
According to reports, Hasina's legal representatives submitted the request to the embassy in New Delhi. The move is widely seen as a critical step toward her proposed return in December, more than two years after a student-led uprising forced her from power.
Hasina, who had ruled Bangladesh for roughly two decades, was ousted following weeks of protests that erupted in 2024 over a controversial government job quota system. Her lawyers stated that her existing passport and national identity card had been revoked by the authorities, which prompted the application for new documents.
In earlier interviews with Reuters, Hasina said she intends to return to Bangladesh and surrender before a court. Her aides indicated that the exact date would be announced only after all necessary formalities are completed.
Nevertheless, her planned return faces serious legal obstacles. A special tribunal sentenced her to death in absentia in November 2025 over her role in the deadly crackdown on protesters — allegations she has consistently denied. Additionally, her ruling Awami League party has been barred from participating in upcoming elections, while Bangladesh has also sought her extradition from India.
The situation underscores the complex political and legal landscape surrounding Hasina's potential comeback, even as multiple challenges remain unresolved.