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Editorial
Sheikh Hasina’s Passport Request: A Diplomatic and Constitutional Dilemma
The reported request by former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for a new passport and national identity card from the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi, ahead of a possible return to her country, raises important questions about diplomacy, sovereignty, citizenship and the rule of law. Dhaka’s reiteration of its extradition demand adds another dimension to an already sensitive bilateral issue.
The issue, however, is not merely administrative. Hasina’s lawyers have invoked her Bangladeshi nationality and applicable legal obligations as grounds for issuing fresh documents. Dhaka, on the other hand, has questioned the application and maintained that her return should take place through the extradition treaty with India. Reports also indicate that the Bangladeshi authorities are examining the legal validity of the request.
At the heart of this controversy lies a fundamental distinction between citizenship and criminal accountability. If Hasina remains a Bangladeshi citizen, the state must clarify the legal basis for denying her identity documents. Equally, citizenship cannot automatically exempt an individual from prosecution for alleged or established criminal offences. The death sentence imposed in absentia makes the questions of due process, fair trial and judicial independence particularly significant. Hasina denies the allegations and has challenged the legitimacy of the proceedings.
India also faces a delicate diplomatic responsibility. It must respect Bangladesh’s sovereignty while ensuring that any decision concerning Hasina's presence or possible transfer complies with the bilateral extradition treaty and applicable legal safeguards. The matter should not become an instrument of political bargaining between the two neighbours.
Bangladesh has undergone considerable political upheaval since Hasina's removal in August 2024. Its democratic institutions, political parties and judiciary need an environment in which disagreements are resolved through constitutional processes rather than retaliation.
A former prime minister, regardless of political standing, must remain accountable under the law. At the same time, justice must not be confused with political vengeance. A credible judicial process requires transparent proceedings, access to legal representation and an opportunity to challenge evidence.
The Way Forward
Hasina's proposed return could become an opportunity to demonstrate Bangladesh's commitment to constitutional democracy. Dhaka should clarify her citizenship and passport status under the law, while India should handle the extradition question through established diplomatic and legal channels.
Ultimately, neither political hostility nor personal privilege should determine the outcome. The rule of law must prevail over political vendetta, and justice must be seen to be done. That is essential not only for Sheikh Hasina but also for Bangladesh's democratic future and its relationship with India.
When the Monitors Go Dark: Delhi’s Diwali Smog Exposes a Deeper Crisis
Delhi has just endured its most polluted Diwali in five years. Thick, acrid smog blanketed the capital, pushing air quality into the “very poor” and “severe” categories. What makes this year’s episode especially alarming is not only the toxicity of the air but the sudden silence of the instruments meant to measure it. Several government monitoring stations went offline precisely when firecracker emissions peaked and PM2.5 levels reportedly climbed towards 1,000 micrograms per cubic metre. The data gap has raised legitimate questions about the reliability of the official narrative.
This is not a one-off technical glitch. It is a symptom of a governance failure that has become routine. Every winter, the same cycle repeats: stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana, vehicular emissions, industrial pollution, and the festive burst of firecrackers combine under stagnant weather conditions to choke the National Capital Region. Courts issue bans, governments announce graded response plans, and citizens are urged to stay indoors. Yet the air remains poisonous, and public trust erodes further when the very tools of accountability stop functioning at the critical moment.
The health cost is enormous and unevenly borne. Children, the elderly, and outdoor workers suffer the most. Hospitals report spikes in respiratory distress. Long-term exposure shortens lives and reduces productivity. When official monitors go blank, the public is left with private sensors, satellite data, and lived experience — all of which paint a bleaker picture than the curated averages sometimes presented.
Blaming only citizens for bursting crackers misses the larger picture. Enforcement of the Supreme Court’s time restrictions remains weak. Alternative livelihoods for farmers who burn stubble have not scaled adequately. Public transport and clean energy transitions proceed too slowly. The offline monitors only deepen the suspicion that inconvenient peaks are being soft-pedalled.
India cannot claim to be a rising power while its capital becomes unliveable every November. Real progress demands continuous, transparent monitoring that cannot be switched off, stricter real-time enforcement, aggressive crop residue management, and a serious shift away from fossil-fuel dependence in transport and industry. Until then, Delhi’s winter air will remain both a public health emergency and a test of institutional credibility — one the city is still failing.
SAS Kirmani
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