Fake documents submission behind visa complications for Bangladeshis: Lutfey Siddiqi

Criminal activities such as submitting forged certificates and bank statements are among the main reasons Bangladeshis face complications when applying for visas to many countries, said Lutfey Siddiqi, special envoy for International Affairs to the chief adviser.

He made the remark today (2 July) at a seminar titled "Japanese Labour Market: Opportunities and Challenges", organised by the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment.

At the event, Zia Hasan, policy adviser to the ministry, mentioned that the Japanese Embassy had previously issued visas directly for Bangladeshi applicants, but halted the practice after a case of fake document submission was detected.

"Now, Japanese visas are issued through VFS, but the process has become slower compared to the embassy," he added.

According to tour operators, outbound travellers, including migrant workers, students, and tourists, are increasingly facing hurdles in securing visas for several popular destinations. Several countries have unofficially imposed "visa restrictions", while others are issuing fewer visas due to allegations of overstays.

This situation has caused hardship for thousands of medical, business, and leisure travellers, while also reducing job opportunities for Bangladeshis in countries like the UAE, Malaysia, and Oman, they said.