Ousted Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has applied for a passport, a move interpreted as a significant step toward her planned return to the country. The former leader has been residing in India for the past two years following her departure from power.
Hasina had previously pledged to return to Bangladesh in December, a timeline that aligns with the recent administrative action of seeking travel documents. The application for a passport is viewed by observers as a concrete signal that she is preparing to exercise her promise to re-enter her homeland.
Sheikh Hasina has lived in India for two years since leaving Bangladesh. During this period, she has maintained a public presence, communicating her intentions to the Bangladeshi public regarding her future political and personal plans.
The request for a passport necessitates coordination with Indian authorities, as Hasina is currently based in the neighboring country. This bureaucratic step is a prerequisite for her international travel back to Bangladesh, marking a tangible progression from her earlier verbal commitments.
Her return would represent a major development in Bangladesh's political landscape, which has undergone significant changes since her ouster. The timing of her return, targeted for December, suggests a strategic approach to re-engaging with the political environment in her home country.
<small>Source: Al Jazeera — read the original story there.</small>