EU urged to open visa centre for Bangladeshis in Dhaka: Home adviser

Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Md Jahangir Alam today (21 Aoril) urged the European Union (EU) to open a visa centre in Dhaka for citizens seeking visas to EU countries that currently do not issue them from Bangladesh.

The adviser made the request during a meeting with EU Ambassador to Bangladesh Michael Miller at the latter's office in the Ministry of Home Affairs.  

The meeting discussed several issues, including law and order, Rohingya crisis, migration, human trafficking and smuggling, and ongoing reform initiatives in Bangladesh.

Jahangir said Bangladesh is a major manpower-exporting country to the EU and that many Bangladeshis regularly travel to EU nations for business, education, healthcare, tourism and other purposes.

He pointed out that travelling to New Delhi to apply for EU visas is time-consuming, difficult and expensive for Bangladeshi citizens. "Given the size of our population, opening a visa centre in Dhaka for EU countries is essential," the adviser said.

In response, Ambassador Miller said he would discuss the matter with stakeholders.

Welcoming the ambassador, the adviser described the EU as one of Bangladesh's largest development partners, with significant contributions to trade and infrastructure since Bangladesh's early days.

He expressed the EU's support for Bangladesh's reform initiatives and proposed training workshops in EU countries for Bangladeshi professionals to help overcome the shortage of skilled manpower in the country.

"Reform is a continuous process," the adviser said, stressing the need for political will and stakeholder consensus to ensure its success.

Regarding law and order, the adviser informed that the overall situation in Bangladesh is satisfactory and improving steadily.

Replying to the question, the adviser shared that various types of crimes are declining, while stressing the importance of accurate information in countering misinformation.

"One of our neighbouring countries is spreading false propaganda about Bangladesh," he said, adding that the media has been urged to ensure the dissemination of factual information.

Highlighting several aspects of the Rohingya issue, adviser Jahangir said that while officially 1.2 million Rohingya refugees reside in Bangladesh, the actual number is higher.

EU ambassador Miller expressed the EU's willingness to work closely with Bangladesh to combat human trafficking and smuggling.

He noted that every year a significant number of Bangladeshis attempt to reach Europe via Libya and the Mediterranean, often falling victim to traffickers, suffering financial losses, or losing their lives.

He proposed a trilateral dialogue involving Bangladesh, Libya, and the EU to address the issue, potentially leading to the signing of a memorandum of understanding.

The adviser welcomed the idea and requested the EU to take the lead in organizing the initiative, assuring Bangladesh's full cooperation.

Representatives from both Bangladesh and the EU attended the meeting.