Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s reported application for a new passport and national identity card has attracted widespread attention from domestic and international media, renewing speculation about her possible return to the country in December.
The development, reported on Monday, 9 November, first gained prominence following an exclusive report by international news agency Reuters. Within hours, the story was picked up by major news organisations across several continents, placing Hasina’s potential return firmly in the international spotlight.
According to Reuters’ report from New Delhi, lawyers at London-based Matrix Chambers sent a letter concerning Hasina’s request for a new passport and national identity card (NID). Reuters described the move as the clearest indication yet of her preparations to return to Bangladesh in December.
The Associated Press (AP) also published a separate report, stating that it had independently seen the letter. Its coverage was subsequently carried by several international outlets, including Arab News, US News & World Report and Yahoo News UK.
The AP report also referred to an interview given by Hasina earlier this month, in which she reportedly said she would return to Bangladesh in December at any cost. Her statement had already drawn attention, but the reported passport and NID application has added a practical dimension to her stated intention.
Other international media organisations also covered the development. Al Jazeera published its own report based on information from Reuters, while Gulf News outlet Khaleej Times, TRT World, Italy’s Internazionale, India’s ThePrint and Russia’s RT also reported on the matter.
The story received extensive coverage in Bangladesh as well. Prothom Alo published a separate report stating that the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi had received an email concerning the application and forwarded it to Dhaka for further consideration. Several other national outlets, including Jugantor, Jago News 24, The Business Standard, Kalbela, Risingbd, Ekushey Television, Rupali Bangladesh and Manabzamin, also covered the development.
The government’s response has added another significant dimension to the issue. At a press briefing held at the Home Ministry on Monday afternoon, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed was asked about Hasina’s reported application.
He said the authenticity of the application had not yet been verified. The Foreign Ministry and the Law Ministry were examining its legal implications, he added.
The Home Minister also confirmed that Bangladesh had sent a formal letter to India seeking Hasina’s return under the bilateral extradition treaty. The issue therefore involves not only the processing of travel documents but also broader legal and diplomatic considerations between the two neighbouring countries.
Meanwhile, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humayun Kabir told Reuters: “Terrorists are not issued passports.” His remark reflected the government’s position on the matter amid continuing questions over Hasina’s legal status and the possibility of her return.
Hasina and her associates have maintained that she intends to return to Bangladesh to surrender before the court. They have indicated that the specific date of her return will be announced after the necessary formalities have been completed.
Her potential return comes against the backdrop of the political upheaval of 2024 and the subsequent legal proceedings against her. A Bangladeshi court has sentenced Hasina to death over allegations relating to the suppression of the 2024 uprising. Her political party, the Awami League, is also currently prohibited from operating.
These circumstances make the reported application particularly significant. Any attempt by Hasina to return would involve complex legal questions, including the status of her passport and national identity documents, the outstanding judicial proceedings and the government’s position on her entry into the country.
Reuters’ analysis suggests that her possible return could trigger fresh political and legal tensions within Bangladesh. It could also have implications for relations between Dhaka and New Delhi, particularly given Hasina’s presence in India and Bangladesh’s request for her extradition.
For now, the reported application remains subject to verification and legal scrutiny by the relevant authorities. No confirmed date for her return has been announced.
The extensive international coverage reflects the wider significance of the development. Hasina’s passport application has become more than an administrative matter, raising questions about her political future, the legal process awaiting her in Bangladesh and the diplomatic relationship between the two countries. Whether the reported December return materialises will depend on the outcome of the ongoing procedures and the decisions of the authorities concerned.
Sources: Reuters, Associated Press, Al Jazeera, Arab News, Khaleej Times, TRT World, Internazionale, ThePrint, Prothom Alo, Jugantor, Jago News 24, The Business Standard, Kalbela and Risingbd (9 November 2026).
