Bangladeshis face global visa rejection post-regime change

This situation reveals Bangladesh’s standing in the eyes of the world

Dhaka (Bangladesh) – Bangladeshi citizens are facing increasing difficulties in obtaining visas, with many countries halting visa issuance altogether. This situation has emerged following the violent power shift in Bangladesh last year.

1. According to a detailed report in the international online journal The Diplomat, countries such as India, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand and even Tajikistan, which once issued e-visas to Bangladeshis within hours, are now either rejecting their visa applications, delaying them or imposing restrictions. This has become a routine experience, severely affecting millions of Bangladeshi citizens.

2. The interim government in Bangladesh blames the situation on human trafficking networks and the previous administration’s failures. However, diplomatic experts cite the real reasons as a lack of diplomatic engagement, political instability, and the government’s eroded legitimacy.

India stopped issuing tourist visas to Bangladeshis

After the regime change in August 2024 One year on, this restriction remains in place. From April 2023 to March 2024, over 21 lakh Bangladeshis officially visited India as tourists out of nearly 1 crore foreign visitors during that period. (If over 21 lakh Bangladeshis entered legally in a year, one can only imagine how many may have entered illegally with demographic imbalance as the goal – Editor)

Indonesia ends visa-on-arrival for Bangladeshis

According to The Diplomat, Indonesia cited human trafficking concerns while cancelling visa-on-arrival for Bangladeshis. Even after the Indonesian Deputy Foreign Minister’s visit to Dhaka in June, no progress was made on the matter. Thailand, which previously processed e-visas in under a week, now takes 40 to 50 days to handle Bangladeshi applications. Vietnam has entirely halted issuing tourist visas to Bangladeshis.

Middle East and Europe tighten restrictions

The report notes that the United Arab Emirates has significantly reduced the number of visas granted to Bangladeshis. On average, only 30 to 50 Bangladeshis receive visas per day. In Italy, over 60,000 Bangladeshi visa applications remain pending.

Yunus government has failed

The report bluntly states that these developments reflect the global decline in the value of the Bangladeshi passport. As of 2025, under the Yunus-led regime, each rejected visa further diminishes Bangladesh’s international standing. It is the duty of the head of state to restore democratic processes and bring about political stability so that Bangladesh can progress with dignity and its citizens no longer face humiliation at foreign borders, and the credibility of its passport remains intact.