Bangladesh on Monday renewed its demand for the extradition of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from India, making it clear that it wants her return through the legal process rather than by issuing
her a new passport.
Bangladesh’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Humayun Kabir, said there was no question of issuing a passport to Hasina, who has been sentenced to death and is regarded as a fugitive criminal by the Bangladeshi government.
Kabir said Bangladesh and India already have an extradition treaty and that Hasina should be handed over under its provisions. He added that she did not need a passport to return to Bangladesh like an ordinary traveller.
The statement comes amid reports that Hasina has formally sought a replacement Bangladeshi passport and national identity card through her lawyers. They reportedly submitted an application to Bangladesh’s High Commission in New Delhi on Monday.
Hasina Maintains December Return Plan
Hasina, who is currently living in India, has reiterated her intention to return to Bangladesh in December, saying she would not change her decision.
She has reportedly said that even if death awaited her, she would prefer to die on the soil of her homeland among her own people. She has also indicated that she is prepared to return despite the possibility of arrest.
According to the information provided, her lawyers have approached the Bangladeshi High Commission in New Delhi for replacement travel and identity documents. Hasina has said that she intends to surrender before a court after returning to Bangladesh.
Her aides have said that the exact date of her return will be announced once the formalities are completed.
Why Bangladesh Wants Her Extradition
Hasina left Bangladesh in August 2024 after a student-led uprising brought an end to her long rule. She arrived in India following her removal from power and has remained in exile since then.
The Bangladeshi government has repeatedly sought her extradition from India, citing the charges and legal proceedings against her.
In November 2025, a special tribunal in Bangladesh sentenced Hasina to death after finding her guilty of crimes against humanity in connection with the crackdown on protesters.
