Former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who was ousted from power following the 2024 mass uprising, has applied for a new passport and national identity card (NID) at the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi, according to a report by Reuters.

Citing a letter submitted on Monday, Reuters reported that the application marks Hasina’s first formal communication with Bangladeshi authorities since she fled the country in 2024.

However, on November 5, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humayun Kabir told journalists that Bangladesh would not issue a passport or travel pass to Hasina, who has been sentenced to death. He said the government would seek her return under the existing extradition treaty between Bangladesh and India.

Kabir described Hasina as a fugitive and an alleged terrorist, arguing that issuing her a passport was unnecessary because the two countries have an extradition agreement.

“Does Sheikh Hasina need a passport to visit her in-laws’ home in Rangpur? Will she return simply by being issued a passport? We have an extradition treaty with India. This agreement is intended to bring terrorists and criminals to justice. A passport is not required to apprehend a terrorist or criminal; what is needed is a judicial process,” he said.

He further stated that the government could not treat Hasina as an ordinary commercial traveller, alleging that she had fled after thousands of people were killed.

“We want her handover. Under the extradition treaty between the governments of Bangladesh and India, this criminal must be handed over,” Kabir said.

On November 8, Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Md Asaduzzaman also said the government would take all necessary legal steps to bring Hasina back under the extradition agreement.

Speaking after inaugurating a workshop for subordinate court judges, the minister said Bangladesh expected India to return her under the treaty.

“The government will take all necessary legal measures to bring Sheikh Hasina back under the extradition treaty. We expect the Indian government to return her under this agreement. All legally necessary steps to bring her back have been taken,” he said.

According to Reuters, lawyers from Hasina’s London-based legal firm, Matrix Chambers, sent a letter to Priti Rahman, Bangladesh’s Acting High Commissioner in New Delhi, requesting the issuance of new identity documents.

The letter reportedly stated: “It has been brought to our attention that the interim government and other authorities have cancelled our client’s existing Bangladeshi passport and national identity card (NID). In these circumstances, we respectfully request that the necessary steps be taken to issue her a new Bangladeshi passport and national identity card.”

The lawyers also requested that the applications be processed “as soon as possible”, citing Hasina’s Bangladeshi citizenship and obligations under international human rights conventions.

Reuters reported that Priti Rahman in New Delhi and spokespersons for Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in Dhaka did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Since taking refuge in India, Hasina has repeatedly said that she intends to return to Bangladesh in December this year.