No legal scope to issue passport to Hasina: ICT Prosecutor

International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) Chief Prosecutor Md Aminul Islam on Tuesday said there was no legal scope to issue a passport to ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, describing her as a convicted fugitive in a crimes against humanity case over the July 2024 mass uprising.

He also said her death sentence would be enforced upon her return to Bangladesh, as she had not appealed against the verdict and had no further legal scope to challenge it.

Speaking at a press conference on the tribunal premises, Aminul said the Bangladesh Passport Order, 1973, barred authorities from issuing travel documents to a person in Hasina's position.

He said the government had already cancelled her passport following her conviction and death sentence for crimes against humanity, an offence involving moral turpitude.

Referring to Articles 6 and 36 of the Constitution, Aminul said the relevant provisions of the Passport Order did not permit issuing a passport to a convicted person who had evaded judicial proceedings or was a fugitive. He added that an arrest warrant had been issued to bring Hasina back to Bangladesh, while other legal steps, including newspaper notices, had also been taken.

Regarding reports that a London-based law firm had applied for a passport on Hasina's behalf through the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi, the chief prosecutor questioned the legal basis of the application.

He said a passport application must be submitted by the individual concerned, but neither Hasina nor her party had applied for one. Instead, the request came from the law firm, Matrix Chambers.

Aminul also questioned how the firm could apply on behalf of someone living in India without making public any formal agreement with its client.

He warned that issuing a passport or travel pass to a convicted person in violation of the law would undermine the judicial process.

The remarks came after Hasina's London-based lawyers, Matrix Chambers, requested the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi to issue her a new passport and national identity card.

In a letter dated November 9, the lawyers urged the mission to take necessary steps based on Hasina's Bangladeshi citizenship and applicable domestic and international legal obligations.

Bangladesh has repeatedly sought her extradition from India to face justice.