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Bdnews24 report: What is written in Hasina’s passport application letter?
Published : Monday, 9 November, 2026 at 2:26 PM
Observer Online Report
Deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, currently residing in India following a death sentence in absentia for crimes against humanity during the 2024 uprising, has formally requested a new Bangladeshi passport and National Identity (NID) card through her legal representative to facilitate her intended return to Bangladesh.
On her behalf, Steven Powles KC of the London-based law firm Matrix Chambers sent an official letter dated Monday, November 9, to Preeti Rahman, Acting High Commissioner at the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi.
"I am writing this letter as legal counsel for Her Excellency Sheikh Hasina, former Prime Minister of the People's Republic of Bangladesh," Powles wrote in the letter obtained by bdnews24.
Addressing the cancellation of her previous credentials, the letter states: "Taking into account reports of the cancellation of her existing Bangladeshi passport and National Identity (NID) card by the interim government and other authorities, I respectfully request that you take necessary steps to issue a new Bangladeshi passport and NID for our client."
The legal firm noted that the request is made on the basis of her Bangladeshi citizenship, aligning with applicable obligations under Bangladeshi law and international human rights treaties.
"We would be grateful if the High Commission would examine the matter and inform us of the necessary formalities and documents required to process these applications expeditiously," Powles added.
Although Sheikh Hasina previously disclosed plans to return to Bangladesh in December to face trial, the letter did not explicitly outline a timeline for her arrival. According to Reuters, this represents her most direct formal step toward returning to Bangladesh since fleeing the country on 5 August 2024.
Diplomatic sources confirmed that the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi received the email on Monday morning and subsequently forwarded the matter to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dhaka to determine the next course of action.
Meanwhile, Chief Prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) Aminul Islam dismissed the move as a political maneuver, telling reporters: "These are all baseless statements and political stuntmanship. Everything Sheikh Hasina is doing now is a stunt. She will not come back."
In November 2025, the ICT sentenced Sheikh Hasina to death in absentia for ordering lethal crackdowns during the student-led mass uprising, charges she has denied from India. Her party, the Awami League, remains banned from political activities in Bangladesh, with most senior leaders either incarcerated or hiding abroad.
Awami League leaders informed Reuters that her exact date of return would be finalized once administrative formalities are concluded.
-SA
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