Bangladesh’s interim government head, Muhammad Yunus, has urged European countries to relocate their visa centres for Bangladeshi nationals from Delhi to Dhaka or a nearby country, citing India’s visa restrictions as the cause of significant disruption. Yunus made the appeal during a meeting with over 19 diplomats from Dhaka and New Delhi in Dhaka’s Tejgaon.
He expressed concerns that Indian restrictions on visas were creating uncertainty for Bangladeshi students who were previously required to travel to Delhi to obtain European visas. This situation could potentially prevent talented students from pursuing higher education in Europe. Yunus argued that moving the visa offices to Dhaka or a neighboring country would not only alleviate these difficulties but also benefit both Bangladesh and the European Union.
The meeting also highlighted the example of Bulgaria, which had already relocated its visa centres for Bangladeshis to Indonesia and Vietnam. European diplomats expressed their support for Bangladesh’s reform efforts and pledged to help the country build a better future.
In addition to visa concerns, Yunus addressed the spread of misinformation about Bangladesh and sought EU assistance in countering it. He also accused former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her associates of financial misconduct, further stating that he had been in discussions with representatives from all political parties and religious communities in Bangladesh.
Meanwhile, Dhaka reported that India had agreed to take steps to increase visa issuance for Bangladeshis after Yunus’s meeting with Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri.
