Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
| Photo Credit: AP

Bangladesh on Tuesday (January 7, 2024) revoked the passport of deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and 96 others in connection with their role in the crackdown against protesters during the uprising of July-August 2024.

“The Passports Department cancelled passports of 22 people involved in enforced disappearances while passports of 75 people including Sheikh Hasina were revoked due to their involvement in the July killings,” said Abul Kalam Azad Majumdar, Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary. The official did not reveal the names of the 96 others whose passports were also revoked.

The interim government of Bangladesh had made it clear soon after the swearing-in of Prof Mohammad Yunus as the Chief Advisor of the interim government that the ousted PM’s passport would be revoked. Cancellation of the passport is expected to create hardships for India where Ms. Hasina is presently stationed since leaving Dhaka on 5 August.

Apart from the cancellation of the passports, the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit on Tuesday ordered all banks and financial institutions of the country to send the information and transaction details of Sheikh Hasina, her sister Rehana and son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, and daughter Saima Wazed Putul among others.