The chief prosecutor of Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal declared that former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is currently ineligible for a passport under Bangladeshi law, emphasizing that her return from India would necessitate extradition. This follows the tribunal’s sentencing of Hasina to death in absentia last year. Plans for her return in December, intending to surrender in court, were communicated by Hasina herself.
Prosecutor Md Aminul Islam pointed to the Bangladesh Passport Order of 1973, which restricts passport issuance to individuals with specific criminal convictions. This declaration emerged in response to a request made by Hasina’s legal team for a new passport and national identity card. Her lawyers referenced her Bangladeshi citizenship and the nation’s commitments under international human rights frameworks when appealing for these documents. Further developments were noted by a report highlighting the intricacies of her legal situation and ongoing demands.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, confirmed that the extradition request will proceed through the legal process, redirecting questions regarding Hasina’s travel documents to Bangladesh’s diplomatic mission in New Delhi. This situation evolved against a backdrop where Bangladesh had previously urged India to extradite Hasina even before her legal team’s request for the documents.
The 2013 extradition treaty between India and Bangladesh plays a pivotal role here, as it includes conditions and exceptions permitting each nation to surrender individuals wanted for prosecution or to fulfill a sentence for an extraditable offense. This legal landscape is set against the backdrop of Hasina’s escape to India in August 2024 following a student uprising that concluded her 15-year tenure. The unrest, spanning July and August, reportedly resulted in approximately 1,400 deaths according to a United Nations investigation. Although convicted of crimes against humanity and sentenced to death on November 17, 2025, Hasina maintains her innocence.
This complex case underscores the intersections of national and international law, human rights, and the intricate relationships between neighboring countries, each bound by treaties and legal obligations. As it moves forward, the execution of legal frameworks will undoubtedly be critical in determining the fate of the former Prime Minister.