Issuing passport to a convict would mock justice: Chief Prosecutor

Under the Passport Act, there is no scope to issue a passport to a person sentenced to a minimum of two years. Raising the question of how the state could issue a passport to death-row convict Sheikh Hasina, Chief Prosecutor Md. Aminul Islam said that issuing her a passport would amount to mocking justice.

He made the remarks at a briefing on the premises of the International Crimes Tribunal on Tuesday (10 November).

The chief prosecutor said there is no longer any legal scope for her to file an appeal. 'Then how can the Government of Bangladesh issue a passport to a death-row convict? If the state issues a passport or a travel pass to a convicted person, that would be a mockery of justice by the state,' he said. 'The Passport Act says that a passport cannot be given if the sentence is at least two years.'

Earlier, Steven Powles KC (King's Counsel), a lawyer from the United Kingdom, wrote to the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi requesting the issuance of a new Bangladeshi passport and national identity card (NID) for fugitive former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who is in India.

He sent the letter on Monday (9 November) to Preeti Rahman, the acting high commissioner of Bangladesh to India in New Delhi.

In the letter, Steven Powles introduced himself as the lawyer of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and said reports indicate that the interim government and the relevant authorities have cancelled her existing Bangladeshi passport and national identity card.

In this situation, Powles requested the high commissioner to take the necessary steps to issue a new passport and national identity card for Hasina on the basis of her Bangladeshi citizenship.

The letter said the application was made on the basis of obligations arising under the laws of Bangladesh and the applicable international human rights conventions.

It also sought the High Commission's advice on the formalities and the documents that would need to be submitted to complete the application process for a new passport and national identity card quickly.

In the letter, Steven Powles expressed the hope that the matter would be considered in due time and the necessary steps taken.

According to the chief prosecutor, given the provisions of the Passport Act and the fact of Hasina's death sentence, there is no scope for the state to issue her a passport.