Sheikh Hasina Seeks New Travel Documents for Planned Return to Bangladesh

Former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has requested a new passport and national identity card to facilitate her return from exile in India. The request comes as she prepares for a planned homecoming in December 2026, despite a death sentence handed down by a Bangladeshi tribunal for her role in a deadly 2024 crackdown.
- On 5 August 2026, Hasina announced her intention to return to Bangladesh in December, regardless of the personal risks, according to Eurasia Review.
- A special tribunal sentenced Hasina to death in absentia on 17 November 2025 for crimes against humanity, as reported by The Independent.
- The United Nations reported that nearly 1,400 people were killed during the 2024 student protests, according to The Independent.
Why is Sheikh Hasina requesting new documents?
Sheikh Hasina is seeking a new passport and national identity card because her previous documents were revoked by the previous regime. Her legal team argues that these documents are necessary to reclaim her fundamental rights as a Bangladeshi citizen and to make her planned return possible.
An aide to Hasina, Abu Obaidha Arin, told The Associated Press that this is a "significant step toward her homecoming." Arin stated that Hasina is determined to return to her country by December.
While she has stated her intent to return, no specific date for her arrival has been formally announced. The request aims to resolve the legal hurdle of her lack of valid identification while she remains in exile in New Delhi.
What are the legal charges against her?
The legal status of Sheikh Hasina is defined by a death sentence issued by the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) in Bangladesh. This sentence was handed down in absentia following investigations into the violent suppression of student-led protests in 2024.
On 17 November 2025, a three-member bench of the ICT convicted Hasina on three specific charges: incitement, ordering killings, and failing to prevent atrocities. According to Eurasia Review, these charges stem from the crackdown that resulted in hundreds of deaths and thousands of injuries.
Hasina has not accepted these legal findings. She has rejected the tribunal's verdict, describing the proceedings as "biased and politically motivated" and questioning the legitimacy of the entire trial process.
How each side tells it
The current government in Dhaka and the exiled former leader hold fundamentally different views on her status and the necessity of her return via travel documents.
The Bangladeshi government views her as a criminal who should be brought to justice through legal channels rather than being granted travel papers. Junior Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir told reporters in Dhaka that the state wants her handed over under an extradition treaty with India.
"We want Hasina to be handed over. She will be handed over. She is a terrorist. She is a fugitive. There is an active extradition treaty between Bangladesh and India," said Humaiun Kobir, junior minister for Foreign Affairs.
Conversely, Sheikh Hasina and her supporters frame her situation as a struggle for her rights and her country. Her aide, Abu Obaidha Arin, emphasized her determination to return to her people despite the legal obstacles placed in her way by the current administration.
"This is a significant step toward her homecoming. Having had her documents revoked by the previous regime, Her Excellency looks forward to reclaiming her fundamental rights as a Bangladeshi citizen and receiving the necessary documents," said Abu Obaidha Arin, an aide to Hasina.
The Bangladeshi foreign ministry expressed outrage over her recent media interactions in India. The ministry stated that the government is "outraged that the absconding convicted genocider Sheikh Hasina was allowed this evening to engage in live interaction with the media in New Delhi."
What is the current relationship between India and Bangladesh?
Bilateral ties between India and Bangladesh are currently strained by the political fate of Sheikh Hasina. Since she fled to India in 2024, New Delhi has become the center of a diplomatic tug-of-war between the two nations.
Bangladesh's current leadership, led by Tarique Rahman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), is pushing for her extradition. Following a meeting between India's High Commissioner Dinesh Trivedi and Rahman, Deputy Press Secretary Shahadat Shadhin said that "Bangladesh hopes that India will expedite the process of extraditing Sheikh Hasina."
India has maintained a more cautious diplomatic stance. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs stated that the country is still "examining the matter" using "established procedures." Regarding her recent public statements, India's spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal noted that the Indian government had no role in her media appearance and does not endorse her remarks.
The tension is compounded by a shift in regional influence. Hasina's son, Sajeeb Wazed, has claimed that Bangladesh is tilting toward Pakistan and China, describing the shift by saying, "Bangladesh has become another Pakistan on India's eastern front."
How did the political situation change?
The current political landscape was shaped by a mass uprising in 2024 that forced Sheikh Hasina from power. This event led to the installation of an interim government and eventually a new election in February 2026.
The transition of power involved several key stages:
- 5 August 2024: Student-led protests forced Sheikh Hasina to flee Bangladesh, after which she landed in India.
- August 2024 to February 2026: An interim government managed the country following Hasina's ouster.
- February 2026: An election was held where Hasina's Awami League party was barred from competing, leading to a landslide victory for Tarique Rahman.
This change in leadership has fundamentally altered Bangladesh's foreign policy. While Hasina was a longtime ally of India, the Rahman administration has engaged more closely with nations like Malaysia and China, creating a strategic gap between Dhaka and New Delhi.
What happens next?
The immediate focus remains on the diplomatic maneuvering between New Delhi and Dhaka. Several key events and deadlines will determine if Hasina's December return is possible.
First, the Indian government must continue its "examination" of the extradition request. Second, the 18th BRICS Summit is scheduled for 12–13 September 2026 in New Delhi. Tarique Rahman has been invited to attend, and his decision to visit India will be a major indicator of how the two countries manage their current friction.
If Hasina successfully obtains her documents, her planned return in December 2026 could trigger significant domestic unrest. Protesters in Dhaka have already demonstrated their opposition by burning her effigy, and her return will test the stability of the current government and the judicial system.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why can't Sheikh Hasina just fly back to Bangladesh?
Her previous Bangladeshi passport and identity documents were revoked by the government following her ouster. She is currently requesting new ones to legally facilitate her travel.
Is Sheikh Hasina facing prison if she returns?
Yes, she was sentenced to death in absentia by a Bangladeshi tribunal in November 2025. She has stated she is prepared to face imprisonment or death to return to her country.
What is India's position on her extradition?
India has not yet agreed to extradite her and says it is still examining the request through established procedures. India has also clarified that it does not endorse her recent political statements made in New Delhi.


