Dhaka, The Bangladesh government on Monday said deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina has no intention of returning to the country and her recent activities are “merely political posturing”.
India has acknowledged receiving Bangladesh’s extradition requests for Hasina but has not announced any decision on handing her over.
The Ministry of External Affairs has said the requests are being examined as part of its established processes.
The remarks were made by Chief Prosecutor Md Aminul Islam amid reports that Hasina has sought a new passport and national identity card to facilitate her return from India, where she has been living since fleeing Bangladesh in August 2024 following a student-led uprising that toppled her Awami League government. Hasina has recently said she intends to return to Bangladesh in December, despite facing serious legal challenges, including a death sentence handed down in absentia by a special tribunal over the deadly crackdown on protesters in 2024. Earlier reporting noted: Sheikh Hasina seeks new passport, ID card to return to Bangladesh after 2 years of exile in India Ousted Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina requested on Monday a new passport and identity card so she can return from self-imposed exile in India, according to a letter seen by Reuters, her first such communication since fleeing in 2024.
State minister for foreign affairs Humayun Kobir on Thursday rejected any possibility of issuing Hasina any travel document or passport, describing her as a “fugitive terrorist” and a “dictator”. Earlier reporting noted: “In view of the reported revocation of her existing Bangladeshi passport and National Identity Card (NID) by the Interim Government and other authorities, I respectfully request that you take the necessary steps to issue a new Bangladeshi passport and National Identity Card for our client,” Hasina’s lawyers at London-based Matrix Chambers wrote to Preeti Rahman, acting high commissioner at Bangladesh’s embassy in Delhi.
Bangladesh ‘s war-crimes court sentenced her to death in November last year in her absence for ordering a deadly crackdown on the student-led uprising, though she has denied the charges from exile. Earlier reporting noted: She has told Reuters she plans to return to surrender before a court, and her aides said on Monday the date would be announced once various formalities were completed.
