The interim administration in Bangladesh has turned down a request for a new passport and National Identity (NID) card for ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Despite the rejection, the Bangladesh Awami League remains resolute in its plans to facilitate her return to the country in December. News of the travel document request surfaced just a day before Prime Minister Tarique Rahman departed Dhaka for a three-day visit to Turkey to attend the United Nations climate conference, COP31. The request was submitted to the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi via email by Matrix Chambers, a United Kingdom-based legal firm, triggering fresh political debates and applying psychological pressure on diplomatic relations between Dhaka and New Delhi.
Political analysts suggest that the primary objective of the Awami League is to transform Sheikh Hasina’s return into an open political and diplomatic issue, thereby exerting pressure on the government. Senior party leaders revealed that internal preparations are underway to mobilise thousands of party workers in Kolkata, India, by November to organise a major political gathering ahead of her planned return. According to party sources, if Dhaka fails to respond to the initial application, Matrix Chambers will issue a formal reminder. Should travel documents remain withheld, Sheikh Hasina reportedly intends to cross the Petrapole border into Benapole, Bangladesh, subsequently leading a massive ‘long march’ towards Dhaka via Yashore and Tungipara. However, party insiders acknowledge that the success of this scheme relies heavily on whether Indian authorities permit her movement to the border and assist with immigration clearance.
Questions surrounding the legitimacy of the application have already emerged at the diplomatic level. Saidur Rahman, Press Minister at the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi, confirmed receiving the email from Matrix Chambers but expressed reservations over its authenticity. He noted that the email lacked an official authorisation letter or official documentation verifying that the legal firm was formally empowered to act on Sheikh Hasina’s behalf. The application has since been forwarded to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for thorough evaluation.
Government officials have largely downplayed the informal request while emphasising official extradition channels. Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmad stated that the Foreign and Law ministries are examining whether the application adheres to proper procedures and if a convicted individual legally qualifies for a passport under existing circumstances. He reiterated that Bangladesh has already formally requested India to extradite Sheikh Hasina under the bilateral extradition treaty. State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humayun Kabir affirmed that the government is according little weight to the legal firm’s email, preferring to pursue her return strictly through formal bilateral extradition protocols. Under domestic legal obligations, Bangladesh’s law enforcement agencies would be legally bound to take her into custody immediately upon arrival due to outstanding conviction warrants.
The application has also ignited legal and constitutional debates. Former Minister S. M. Rezaul Karim argued that obtaining a passport is a constitutional right for any citizen under the Passport Act of 1973 and Article 36 of the Constitution, which guarantees freedom of movement. Conversely, legal experts maintain that such statutory rights are constrained for individuals facing criminal convictions and active arrest warrants. Former diplomats observe that gaining international sympathy will prove difficult for the Awami League, given the United Nations report attributing nearly 1,400 deaths to the former regime during the July-August uprising. Analysts also note that New Delhi is likely to leverage the situation for its own geopolitical interests while domestic political dynamics within India could influence how Delhi prioritises the issue.
