Govt revokes diplomatic passport of Sheikh Hasina, ex-MPs, ministers

Bangladesh's interim government revoked the diplomatic passport of ousted premier Sheikh Hasina, her former ministers, MPs, and some officials on Thursday.

The interior ministry said in a statement that Hasina's passport and those belonging to former government ministers and ex-lawmakers no longer in their posts "have to be revoked".

Sheikh Hasina fled a student-led uprising by helicopter to India earlier this month. The move to cancel Hasina's documents leaves the former autocratic leader in potential limbo, and comes on the same day that a United Nations team arrived in Dhaka to assess whether to investigate alleged human rights violations, AFP reports.

More than 450 people were killed -- many by police fire -- during the weeks leading up to Hasina's ouster, as crowds stormed her official residence in Dhaka and ended her iron-fisted 15-year rule.

The situation poses a diplomatic dilemma for Hasina's current host, regional powerhouse India.

However, the interim government left the door open for Hasina to apply for a new passport, pending approval.