Govt working to ease stalled visa processing with foreign countries
Diplomatic Correspondent :
The incumbent government, led by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), is actively working to resolve the visa processing delays and re-establish smooth visa issuance with various countries.
The efforts come after an increasing number of rejections of Bangladeshi passports for visa applications, as well as warnings issued by countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom regarding the submission of fraudulent documents by Bangladeshi applicants.
Shama Obaed Islam, the State Minister for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, confirmed the government’s commitment to resolving the visa issues during a press briefing in Faridpur’s Nagarkanda upazila on Friday.
She stated that the government was making “sincere efforts” to address the concerns, particularly regarding stalled visa processes with numerous countries.
The minister emphasised that Bangladesh’s foreign policy would be driven by national interests, aiming to establish and maintain friendly relations with all countries on the basis of mutual respect and equality.
She added that, “Our foreign policy, as well as all policies, will be conducted with Bangladesh’s interests at the forefront.” Recent developments in visa rejections have particularly affected Bangladeshi citizens seeking to travel to the USA, UK, and other countries.
According to reports, many Bangladeshi passport holders have faced visa denials due to the submission of forged or fraudulent papers.
Both the USA and UK have issued stern warnings to Bangladeshi applicants, stating that any individual found submitting false documents will face a lifetime ban on obtaining visas.
These measures have caused significant concern among the Bangladeshi diaspora, many of whom have been left stranded or unable to proceed with their travel plans due to the tightening regulations.
The issue has been a growing concern within country’s foreign policy circles. Former Adviser to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Md Touhid Hossain, speaking under the previous Interim government, reiterated that the refusal of visas was largely a result of fraudulent documentation being submitted by a small section of Bangladeshi applicants.
He emphasised that such actions were detrimental to the reputation of the country and hindered the mobility of genuine applicants.
The recent visa restrictions by the United States have added to the pressure. As part of its updated visa issuance policy, the US has intensified its scrutiny of visa applications from Bangladesh, with stricter guidelines now in place to detect forged or misrepresented documents.
This move follows a broader trend of tightening visa protocols globally, where fraudulent documentation is increasingly seen as a major factor contributing to visa denials.
In light of these challenges, the government of Bangladesh, under the leadership of the BNP, has vowed to take swift and effective steps to ensure that visa processes are reinstated and that the country’s international standing is not compromised.
State Minister Obaed Islam reassured the public that, in addition to addressing the immediate visa concerns, the government was working to restore diplomatic relations and ensure that Bangladeshi citizens can travel abroad without unnecessary hindrances.
The government’s efforts to address visa-related challenges reflect a larger commitment to upholding the country’s dignity and ensuring a stable and respected presence on the international stage.
