UPDATE - Bangladesh’s transitional government revokes Hasina’s diplomatic passport

UPDATES WITH CANCELATION OF DIPLOMATIC PASSPORTS, EDITS THROUGHOUT

By SM Najmus Sakib

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AA) - Bangladesh’s transitional government on Thursday canceled diplomatic passports of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and other former top officials during her tenure, the Home Ministry said.

Hasina had resigned and fled to India on Aug. 5, following weeks of student-led protests in her country. Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus, 84, took office on Aug. 8 to lead a transitional administration.

In a statement, the Home Ministry said that Hasina, her Cabinet members, advisers and all members of the dissolved parliament would have to apply for an ordinary passport, but two security agencies have to clear their applications for their passports to be issued.

On Wednesday, Md Mashiur Rahman, senior secretary of the Security Services Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs, told the national newspaper Prothom Alo: “We have already directed the Department of Immigration and Passports. An official order will be issued soon,"

As parliament has been abolished and ministers and lawmakers are no longer in their positions, their diplomatic passports will be revoked, he added.

The government could not provide the figure for the number of diplomatic passport holders in the country.

According to a memorandum of understanding between Bangladesh and India, diplomatic and official passport holders of both countries can stay for a period of 45 days without a visa.

Foreign Affairs Advisor Touhid Hossain told reporters in Dhaka last week that his government will decide whether to ask India to extradite Hasina, as so many cases have been filed against her, including for murder and genocide.

The student-led protests resulted in nearly 650 deaths, according to a UN report.