The Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi has received an email from London-based legal consultancy Matrix Chambers requesting new passports and national identity cards (NIDs) for ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina.
The mission confirmed receiving the email on Monday (9 November) morning and said it had immediately informed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dhaka for further instructions.
However, diplomatic sources in Dhaka said the email contained no authorisation document or evidence establishing that Hasina had approved the application.
They said such authorisation is normally required when a legal firm or another representative submits an application on someone’s behalf.
A diplomatic source in New Delhi also confirmed receipt of the email, saying the lawyer had introduced himself as representing Hasina before outlining the request for new travel and identity documents.
The email reportedly said Hasina’s existing Bangladeshi passport and NID had been cancelled by the interim government and other authorities. It urged the High Commission to take the necessary steps to issue new documents to her.
Earlier, Reuters reported, citing a letter it had obtained, that Hasina had sought a new passport and NID as part of plans to return to Bangladesh.
The agency said the application marked her first such formal contact with Bangladeshi authorities since fleeing to India on 5 August, 2024, amid the student-led uprising.
Hasina’s reported move has been seen as the clearest indication yet of her intention to return home, possibly in December.
