Deposed former Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina has formally applied for a fresh passport and national identity card to facilitate her return from self-imposed exile in India, intending to surrender before a domestic court.
However, authorities in Dhaka have rejected the request, insisting that she must return solely through formal bilateral extradition mechanisms rather than as an ordinary traveller. While Ms Hasina asserts a moral commitment to return to her homeland regardless of potential arrest or punishment, the Bangladeshi government terms her a convicted fugitive and demands New Delhi hand her over. For its part, India has maintained that it is evaluating Dhaka’s extradition requests in accordance with established judicial and legal processes, leaving the political future and diplomatic ties of both neighbours in a delicate balance.
Clashing Demands
Represented by a London-based legal firm, Ms Hasina submitted applications to Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs seeking travel documentation after her diplomatic passport was revoked following her ouster in August 2024.
Rejecting the move as mere political posturing, Bangladesh’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Humaiun Kobir, asserted that travel documents would not be provided to individuals facing serious criminal convictions. “Bangladesh does not give passports to terrorists. It asks for them to be handed over,” Mr Kobir stated, emphasising that Dhaka expects her return under the active bilateral extradition treaty. In contrast, Ms Hasina reiterated her resolve to return voluntarily by December, stating in recent communications, “If death is my destiny, I would rather die on the soil of my own country, among my own people,” despite acknowledging the severe prospect of immediate detention.
Strained Bilateral Ties
The confrontation stems from the tumultuous student-led uprising in mid-2024 that brought an end to Ms Hasina’s fifteen-year tenure, during which United Nations estimates indicate nearly 1,400 people lost their lives amid a sweeping state crackdown.
Following her departure to India, Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal sentenced her to death in absentia in late 2025 for alleged crimes against humanity—charges Ms Hasina and her party deny, questioning the legitimacy of the judicial proceedings. With her Awami League barred from subsequent elections, the diplomatic relationship between New Delhi and Dhaka has grown increasingly strained. India’s Ministry of External Affairs has reiterated that it is reviewing the extradition petitions strictly through legal channels, wary of escalating regional friction whilst honouring international legal conventions.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
True justice is never served by rancour, retributive rhetoric, or political posturing; it thrives only when grounded in fair process, transparency, and human dignity.
For Bangladesh to truly heal from the trauma of the 2024 uprising and the loss of hundreds of young lives, its institutions must prioritise accountability that is beyond reproach, rather than resorting to polarising labels that inflame public sentiment. Similarly, cross-border diplomacy between neighbours sharing deep historical ties must be steered by dialogue, mutual respect, and legal integrity, ensuring that justice is neither weaponised for political vengeance nor evaded through geopolitical shelter. The path to lasting reconciliation in South Asia lies not in cycles of retribution, but in truth, restorative justice, and institutional maturity.
