Bangladesh Revokes Sheikh Hasina’s Passport

The interim government of Bangladesh has revoked the passports of 97 individuals, including ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, due to their alleged involvement in enforced disappearances and violence during protests last July.

This decision follows an arrest warrant issued by the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) for Hasina and several former officials on charges of “crimes against humanity and genocide”.

Of the total passports revoked, 22 were linked to enforced disappearances, while 75, including Hasina’s, were connected to killings during the July uprising, which resulted in significant casualties. The ICT has scheduled a court appearance for those accused in February.

Sheikh Hasina, who is currently residing in India after fleeing Bangladesh amid widespread protests that led to her government’s collapse in August 2024, faces multiple allegations regarding human rights abuses during her tenure. A government commission reported over 1,600 complaints of enforced disappearances under her administration.

The interim government has formally requested Hasina’s extradition from India, although New Delhi has not publicly commented on this matter. Prosecutors have indicated that elite law enforcement units were involved in state-sponsored abductions during her rule.