Blaming India’s restrictions on visas, Bangladesh’s interim government head Muhammad Yunus has urged European countries to move their visa centres for Bangladeshis from Delhi to Dhaka or a nearby country.
According to a Dhaka Tribune report, Yunus made the request during a meeting with European diplomats in Dhaka’s Tejgaon, attended by over 19 diplomats from Dhaka and New Delhi.
He said India’s “visa restrictions” have created uncertainty for Bangladeshi students unable to travel to Delhi for European visas, potentially causing European universities to miss out on talented students.
“Relocating visa offices to Dhaka or a nearby country would benefit both Bangladesh and the European Union,” Dhaka Tribune report quoted him as saying to the diplomats.
Dhaka officials also cited the example of Bulgaria, which already shifted its visa centre for Bangladeshis to Indonesia and Vietnam, added the report.
Diplomats expressed support for Dhaka’s reform efforts and pledged to provide guidance and assistance in building a new Bangladesh.
Yunus also addressed “widespread misinformation” about the country and sought EU help in countering it.
He accused former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her associates of “laundering significant amounts of money to destabilise the country.” Yunus further claimed to be in discussions with representatives from all political parties and religious communities in Bangladesh.
On Monday, Dhaka announced that India had pledged to take steps to increase visa issuance for Bangladeshi nationals.
This came after Yunus met with Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri. Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan confirmed that Misri assured the Bangladesh side that measures would be implemented.
At present, India is offering limited visas to Bangladeshis.
“We are already issuing medical visas and visas for emergency requirements. Once the law and order situation improves and the situation becomes conducive to our resumption of normal visa operations (in Bangladesh), we will do that,” MEA officials said last month.
Recently, there were reports that Dhaka was looking at sources other than India to import potatoes and onions. The reasons cited by authorities for the move are “the rising prices of onions and potatoes in the Indian market” and the “various decisions taken by Indian authorities to discourage exports.”
