WEB DESK: Bangladesh’s interim government has reintroduced the “except Israel” clause on its passports, reversing a 2021 decision that had removed the restriction.
Bangladesh’s interim government announced on Sunday the reintroduction of the inscription “except Israel” on its passports, which officially prohibits citizens from traveling to the Jewish state.
Nilima Afroze, deputy secretary of the Bangladesh home ministry, confirmed the decision to the state-run Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) news agency, stating, “We issued the letter to the passport and immigration department on April 7.”
This statement, which reads “THIS PASSPORT IS VALID FOR ALL COUNTRIES OF THE WORLD EXCEPT ISRAEL,” was removed from passports in May 2021 during the administration of then-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of the Awami League. Following a period of civil unrest and student-led protests that ultimately led to Hasina’s resignation, the interim government has opted to reinstate the restriction.
It should be noted that, former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government removed the notation regarding Israel from the passport in 2021.
For decades, the Bangladeshi passport has included a notation stating it is valid for all countries except Israel.
