Hasina’s passport gambit has Bangladesh’s BNP government in a bind
Dhaka’s reluctance to issue her travel documents reflects fears that the former PM's return could revive the Awami League and lead to further instability in the country
"Be careful what you wish for, because you might just get it." This old saying could well apply to Bangladesh.
Ever since Sheikh Hasina fled Dhaka after a student-led mass movement in August 2024, the demand for her return has persisted. In June this year, the former prime minister announced that she would return home by December to surrender to the authorities. She was sentenced to death in absentia for crimes against humanity by Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) last November.
On Monday (November 9), Reuters reported that she has followed through on her promise to return home. Lawyers from a London legal firm have written to the mission in New Delhi to issue her a passport and her National Identity Card (NID), signalling her desire to travel back to Bangladesh.
Govt’s angry response
Her request seemed to have ruffled official feathers in the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) circles of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. There was an angry reply from Humaiun Kobir, the state foreign minister, who rejected Hasina's request.
"Bangladesh does not issue passports to terrorists. We have asked for them (terrorists) to be handed over," the minister told journalists at the foreign ministry.
Also Read: Hasina seeks fresh passport ahead of planned December return to Bangladesh
Dhaka wants India to extradite her, as the two countries have an extradition treaty. Calling the move to ask for travel papers "utterly ridiculous", Kobir questioned the London law firm for taking up the Awami League leader’s request.
“Their client is someone who fled Bangladesh after killing more than 1,500 people," he said, adding that such representation of a "fugitive terrorist" would bring shame upon the firm internationally.
“Her recent activities, as reported by various media outlets, are merely political posturing. She is not taking the legal steps she should take to return to Bangladesh. For now, our comment is that she will not return and that these activities are political posturing," Chief Prosecutor Md Aminul Islam was quoted as saying on Monday.
Authenticity of law firm’s email questioned
The response from the High Commission in Delhi was to question the authenticity of the email sent on her behalf.
“Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who was ousted following the student-people uprising, has not applied for a new passport or National Identity Card (NID),’’ said Saidur Rahman, Press Minister in the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi.
He claimed that the letter sent by the law firm named Matrix Chambers requested a passport and NID in the name of Sheikh Hasina.
Also Read: Bangladesh law minister calls Sheikh Hasina a 'convicted criminal'
“However, we are not sure whether the request is genuine. There is no way for us to verify whether the request was actually made on behalf of Sheikh Hasina, as the email sent by the law firm did not include any authorisation letter or supporting documents proving that the firm was authorised by her to make such a request,’’ the press minister said.
“However, we have forwarded the email to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for necessary consideration,” he added.
Pandora’s box
The bluster and loud recrimination show a certain nervousness in ruling circles. Ever since Sheikh Hasina was forced to flee Bangladesh, the issue of her extradition has marred relations between India and Bangladesh.
The question is why Dhaka should not issue her a passport to let her return to the country and face the music. India is willing to extradite Sheikh Hasina, but officials say it has to go through the necessary legal process. It is a long and cumbersome process that could stretch on for years. Perhaps that suits the BNP government.
The problem is that if Sheikh Hasina were to return home, it would open Pandora’s box, with now-banned Awami League supporters getting fresh impetus to oppose the ban on political activity in Bangladesh. The Tarique Rahman government is struggling at the moment, as the economic situation continues to be perilous. The West Asia and Ukraine wars, as well as Donald Trump’s erratic tariff policies, have affected Bangladesh like most other countries.
Also Read: Hasina's return and garment wage revolt put Bangladesh on edge
Sheikh Hasina, an astute politician, is sensing an opportunity and wants to return home, confident that the government will not execute the death penalty. Bangladesh is a deeply polarised nation and though the Awami League is out of power, it has substantial support among a large section of people. Her return will galvanise Awami League supporters. The government perhaps fears that her return will mean the resurgence of the Awami League and lead to further instability in the country.
“She is applying for a passport to exercise a legal channel to return. If the Bangladesh government doesn’t issue a passport, it would mean it is not serious about her trial, and Hasina will exploit the situation to her advantage. After all, she is a politician. Dhaka’s insistence on extradition is to gain time, as they are not serious about her return and know the political implications of the move,’’ said IDSA’s Smruti Pattanaik, an expert on Bangladesh.
The government will have to decide soon and weigh the political cost of allowing her back home or keeping her in permanent exile. The last word on the issue has not yet been said.
