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Middle East Eye
15-04-2025
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
Bangladesh restores ‘except Israel' disclaimer on passports, barring travel
Amid widespread pro-Palestinian protests across the country, Bangladesh's interim government has decided to bring back a passport restriction that effectively bans travel to Israel. On 7 April, the Ministry of Home Affairs directed immigration authorities to reintroduce a clause stating that Bangladeshi passports are valid for travel to all countries except Israel. Nilima Afroze, a deputy secretary at the ministry, told the Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha news agency on Sunday that authorities issued a directive to restore the inscription, 'THIS PASSPORT IS VALID FOR ALL COUNTRIES OF THE WORLD EXCEPT ISRAEL.' The country's adviser for home affairs, Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, approved and signed the order on Monday, officially implementing the decision. Many on social media celebrated the decision, saying that the country is taking a stance against Israel and its ongoing war on Gaza, which has killed over 51,000 people, including more than 15,000 children. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters Bangladesh reinstates the 'Except israel' condition on its passports — a strong stand of solidarity with our Palestinian brothers and sisters in Gaza — Sarah Wilkinson (@swilkinsonbc) April 13, 2025 The phrase saying valid for all countries "except Israel' had been printed on Bangladeshi passports for decades. It was removed in 2021, during the tenure of ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, citing alignment with international passport standards. The removal was met with intense public disapproval at the time. Hasina's government, which was overthrown in August amid widespread protests, came under fire for allegedly purchasing Israeli spyware to surveil political opponents, even though Bangladesh does not have diplomatic ties with Israel and does not recognise the country. Many on social media celebrated the decision to reinstall the phrase in the passport, with some criticising the 'deafening silence from Arab countries'. On Saturday, at least 100,000 protesters filled the streets of the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka in a massive rally for Gaza. Demonstrators demanded an end to Israel's war on Gaza and waved Palestinian flags. Against the backdrop of these recent protests, Bangladesh's reinstallation of the phrase on passports has been met with positive reactions across the country and internationally. Bangladesh is not the first nor the only nation to bar its passports from being used for travel to Israel. Several other states that do not recognise the state of Israel do not allow their citizens to travel there. These include Brunei, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, and now Bangladesh.
Al Arabiya
15-04-2025
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
Bangladesh restores ‘except for Israel' policy on passports
Bangladesh has restored the phrase 'valid for all countries of the world except Israel,' on its passports, state media reported, reaffirming a travel ban to the Middle Eastern country. The 'except Israel' inscription from passports was removed in 2021, under former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. However, Bangladeshi citizens have been banned from traveling to Israel for decades. At the time, Hasina said that Bangladesh's stance on Israel had not changed and that the move aimed to help the country's passports abide by international standards. Nearly 100,000 people took part in a demonstration titled March for Gaza during a rally in Dhaka on Saturday, displaying Bangladesh's support for an independent Palestinian state. The reinstatement directive was issued on April 7, Bangladesh's Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) news agency reported Monday, citing Deputy Secretary at the Home Ministry Nilima Afroze. The passports of some additional countries not valid for travel to Israel include Brunei, Iran, Iraq, and Pakistan.
Roya News
14-04-2025
- Politics
- Roya News
Bangladesh restores 'except Israel' ban on passports
Bangladesh has reinstated the phrase "except Israel" on its passports, once again prohibiting citizens from traveling to the country, local media reported. The wording — 'valid for all countries except Israel' — had appeared on Bangladeshi passports for decades, reflecting the country's refusal to recognize Israeli Occupation. It was removed during the later years of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's administration. 'Authorities issued a directive last week to restore the inscription,' Deputy Secretary at the Home Ministry Nilima Afroze told the state-run Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) news agency. Afroze added that the Director General of Immigration and Passports had been instructed to implement the change, according to The Daily Star. Israeli Occupation remains a highly sensitive topic in Muslim-majority Bangladesh, which has long expressed strong support for Palestine.
Gulf Today
14-04-2025
- Politics
- Gulf Today
Bangladesh reintroduces 'except Israel' phrase on passports
Bangladesh has restored an "except Israel" inscription on passports, local media reported, effectively barring its citizens from travelling to that country. Israel is a flashpoint issue in Muslim-majority Bangladesh, which does not recognise it. The phrase "valid for all countries except Israel," which was printed on Bangladeshi passports for decades, was removed during the later years of ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina's tenure. Nilima Afroze, a deputy secretary at the home ministry, told Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) news agency on Sunday that authorities had "issued a directive last week" to restore the inscription. "The director general of the department of immigration and passport was asked to take necessary measures to implement this change," local newspaper The Daily Star quoted Afroze as saying Sunday. In 2021, the words "except Israel" were removed from passports, although the then government under Hasina clarified that the country's stance on Israel had not changed. Massive crowd of Muslims carry flags during a protest rally called March for Gaza, to express solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, in Dhaka. Reuters The country's support for an independent Palestinian state was visible on Saturday when around 100,000 protesters gathered in Dhaka in solidarity with Gaza. They carried hundreds of Palestinian flags and chanted slogans such as "Free, Free Palestine." Many among them beat the images of US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accusing them of backing Israel. Symbolic coffins and effigies representing civilian casualties were carried during the rally. Agencies
Daily Tribune
14-04-2025
- Politics
- Daily Tribune
Bangladesh reintroduces ‘except Israel' phrase on passports
TDT | Dhaka, Bangladesh Bangladesh has restored an 'except Israel' inscription on passports, local media reported Sunday, effectively barring its citizens from travelling to that country. Israel is a flashpoint issue in Muslim-majority Bangladesh, which does not recognise it. The phrase 'valid for all countries except Israel,' which was printed on Bangladeshi passports for decades, was removed during the later years of ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina's tenure. Nilima Afroze, a deputy secretary at the home ministry, told Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) news agency on Sunday that authorities had 'issued a directive last week' to restore the inscription. 'The director general of the department of immigration and passport was asked to take necessary measures to implement this change,' local newspaper The Daily Star quoted Afroze as saying Sunday. In 2021, the words 'except Israel' were removed from passports, although the then government under Hasina clarified that the country's stance on Israel had not changed. The country's support for an independent Palestinian state was visible on Saturday when around 100,000 people gathered in Dhaka in solidarity with Gaza.
