Bangladesh has decided to restore the words “except Israel” on its general passports, reversing a change made during the previous government’s tenure.
According to Bangladeshi media reports, Home Affairs Adviser Salahuddin Ahmed told journalists that the restriction would once again be added to ordinary passports. He said the condition has already been implemented on diplomatic passports.
Sources in Bangladesh’s Home Ministry and the Department of Immigration and Passports said the move is being revived in line with the country’s long-standing foreign policy on Palestine, public sentiment, and what officials described as its moral position.
The wording had been removed in 2021 when the Awami League government launched the e-passport service. The project reportedly cost around Tk 4,500 crore, and the decision to drop the phrase drew strong criticism at the time.
Officials said the interim government had also moved in the same direction last year. On April 7, the Home Ministry issued a letter directing authorities to reintroduce the “except Israel” wording on passports. However, the decision was not fully enforced beyond diplomatic passports.
Bangladesh has never had diplomatic relations with Israel. Since the country’s independence in 1971, its passports had traditionally carried the statement that the document was valid for all countries of the world except Israel.
Authorities are also making changes to passport watermark images. One of the new images will feature Abu Sayeed with his arms outstretched, a symbol associated with the July public movement.
At the same time, several existing images are being removed, including the mausoleum of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the Mujibnagar Memorial.
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