Hasina's passport application utterly ridiculous: Humaiun

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir today described ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina's application for a new passport and National Identity Card (NID) as "utterly ridiculous", reiterating that Bangladesh would seek her return from India through the existing extradition treaty.

"She has been sentenced to death. Bangladesh does not issue passports to terrorists," he told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs here.

The state minister made the remarks when his attention was drawn to media reports that Hasina, currently staying in India, had sought fresh travel and identity documents through London-based law firm Matrix Chambers.

Kobir said the deposed prime minister, convicted of crimes against humanity, should be handed over to Bangladesh under the bilateral extradition treaty rather than return as an ordinary traveler.

"We have an active extradition treaty with India. You do not need a passport to bring back terrorists and criminals. This is a matter of handover, and a judicial process is already in place," he said.

He questioned the rationale behind seeking a new passport for someone who had fled Bangladesh and was required to face the enforcement of a court verdict.

The state minister said Hasina's return should take place through established legal and diplomatic procedures with the Indian authorities formally handing her over to Bangladesh.

"If she genuinely wants to return to Bangladesh, she should ask the Indian government to hand her over under the extradition treaty," he said.

Kobir also strongly criticised the British law firm representing Hasina, questioning its ethical and professional judgment in taking up the case.

"My first question to that law firm is very simple: Do you know who your client is?" he asked.

He alleged that Hasina had fled Bangladesh after being responsible for the deaths of more than 1,500 people and accused her government of widespread enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings and other human rights violations.

The state minister urged the legal representatives to examine their client's background and the gravity of the allegations before pursuing the application.

He said legal professionals should maintain ethical and moral standards rather than allowing financial considerations to determine their professional decisions.

Kobir warned that representing individuals accused or convicted of serious crimes without considering the ethical implications could damage the reputation of the legal representatives concerned.

Referring to British legislation concerning national security and public safety, he argued that the United Kingdom itself recognised the importance of protecting national interests when dealing with individuals considered security threats.

The state minister said the law firm should consider those principles while assessing the implications of representing the former Bangladeshi prime minister.

He, however, acknowledged that any individual could engage legal counsel and submit representations to the authorities, but maintained that doing so did not automatically establish the legal merit of an application.

"From a legal point of view, an ethical point of view and a moral point of view, the basis of this application is very weak," he said.

Kobir stressed that submitting a request through lawyers did not necessarily entitle an applicant to receive a passport or NID.

He said Bangladesh's position remained unchanged regarding Hasina's return, as the government had already requested India to extradite her under the existing treaty.

Referring to lobbying activities by the Awami League in the United Kingdom, the state minister alleged that misleading information about Bangladesh had been circulated among British lawmakers through public affairs and lobbying firms.

He claimed that only a handful of lawmakers, around five or six out of the 650 members of the House of Commons, had been influenced by such representations.

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Kobir said those involved in the lobbying efforts had subsequently faced embarrassment over questions concerning the credibility of the information provided.

He also criticised individuals associated with the former government who had fled abroad, alleging that some of them are attempting to influence Bangladesh's political situation while facing accusations of corruption and other offences.

Bangladesh has repeatedly requested for India's cooperation in securing her extradition, while New Delhi has maintained that the request is being examined through established legal procedures.

Reiterating the government's position, Kobir said the question was not whether Hasina could obtain an ordinary passport but how she would be returned to Bangladesh to face the consequences of judicial decisions.

He said the government would continue pursuing her handover through the Bangladesh-India extradition treaty and other established legal and diplomatic mechanisms.