Bangladesh’s interim government on Thursday revoked the diplomatic passport of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who was forced to step down after bloody protests and flee to India in early August.

The interior ministry said Ms Hasina’s passport, like those of her ministers and former parliamentarians, was now “invalid”.

“The former prime minister, her advisers, members of the former government and all members of the dissolved parliament were entitled to diplomatic passports due to their positions,” the ministry explained.

“Since they have been removed from their duties or retired from their positions, their diplomatic passports, as well as those of their spouses, must be canceled.”

More than 450 people, including some forty members of law enforcement, died during the mass anti-government protests that led to the ouster of Ms. Hasina on August 5.

Her government has been accused of a spate of human rights abuses during her 15 years in power, including mass imprisonment and killings of political opponents.

Sheikh Hasina and senior officials can apply for ordinary passports, the issuance of which is subject to the approval of two security agencies, the new authorities in Dhaka have clarified.

The former prime minister is considered an ally of India’s prime minister, Hindu nationalist Narendra Modi.

However, the latter offered his support to the head of the interim government of Bangladesh, the economist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus.

A UN delegation arrived in Bangladesh yesterday to assess whether there should be an international inquiry into alleged human rights abuses by security forces during the recent unrest.