UAE cancels 626 visas of Bangladeshi migrants
The authorities of United Arab Emirates (UAE) have cancelled visas of 626 Bangladeshi national for finding different irregularities.
Following such issues, the government of Bangladesh has urged the migrant workers to refrain from posting contents on social media and follow the rules and regulations of the host country.
“According to information from our embassy and the UAE authorities,
626 Bangladeshi nationals have had their visas automatically cancelled so far. This is not specific to Bangladesh.
Citizens of Pakistan, Egypt, the Philippines, Nepal and several other countries have also been affected,” State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Isalm said on Thursday.
The announcements came during a high level inter ministerial briefing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam and State Minister for Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Nurul Haque Nur outlined the government’s strategy to address visa complications in the UAE and other international destinations.
Addressing the journalists at the Foreign Ministry, she brushed aside the claim that around 5,000 Bangladeshis had lost their UAE visas as ‘inaccurate’.
She disclosed that the government had already submitted applications for the renewal of 417 cancelled visas out of 626 and was sending the remaining cases in phases to the UAE authorities.
“The embassy is also contacting employers and companies to determine whether visa cancellations resulted from employment related issues and whether employers can help resolve the matter,” she said.
The state minister said Bangladesh’s ambassador in Abu Dhabi had already engaged with UAE authorities and further meetings were scheduled next week.
She added that the government was prepared to amend existing migration laws if necessary to curb document fraud and protect Bangladesh’s overseas labour market.
“The Prime Minister has personally sought the actual situation from our ambassador and instructed us to take all necessary steps to resolve the issue,” she said.
Addressing the journalists, Nurul Haque Nur said the government had been aware of reports that many Bangladeshis returning home on leave from the UAE found that their visas had been automatically cancelled.
He said the matter had already been discussed with the Prime Minister, leading to Thursday’s inter ministerial meeting.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already instructed our embassy to provide special support to the affected expatriates. We will launch a hotline in Bangladesh for those whose visas have been cancelled and another emergency hotline in the UAE so that affected workers can register their cases and receive assistance,” he said.
He said the two ministries would work in close coordination to compile lists of affected workers, identify the nature of their problems and provide the necessary assistance.
The state minister stressed that the government regarded the welfare of expatriate Bangladeshis as a priority.
“We have a responsibility towards our expatriate brothers and sisters. The Prime Minister has directed the relevant authorities to respond quickly to their concerns.
We believe the joint measures we have taken will help overcome this problem to a great extent,” he said.
He also urged Bangladeshi workers abroad to comply with the laws of their host countries and refrain from posting content on social media that could violate local regulations or damage Bangladesh’s reputation in international labour markets.
Nur warned that the government would take tougher legal action against those using forged documents for overseas employment.
“Submitting fake documents is punishable by up to seven years under existing law. We are considering strengthening the law further so that those involved face legal consequences and our partner countries are assured that Bangladesh takes such offences seriously,” he said.
Beyond the UAE, Shama said the meeting also reviewed broader visa related challenges and measures to reduce migration costs, prevent exploitation by brokers and ensure that Bangladeshi workers travelled abroad through legal channels.
She noted that authorities were monitoring fraudulent recruitment agencies and taking steps to reduce excessive migration costs, while preventing workers from falling victim to traffickers and illegal intermediaries.
According to the state minister Shama Obaed, 27 Bangladeshis detained in Myanmar have so far been identified and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has begun the process of securing their return, while efforts are continuing to repatriate Bangladeshi nationals from India and other countries.
Nur said the government had already established a dedicated migration wing within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to combat illegal migration and was working with district administrations and foreign governments to prevent Bangladeshis from falling victim to trafficking networks, particularly through routes involving Libya, Laos and Cambodia.
He added that stricter verification of tourist visas and wider public awareness campaigns would also be introduced to protect prospective migrant workers.
