Touhid blames Bangladeshis for rising visa rejections

With visa rejections for Bangladeshis rising sharply across many countries, Foreign Advisor Touhid Hossain has admitted his own concern over the issue while suggesting that Bangladeshis themselves bear much of the responsibility.

He said the country’s reputation had been undermined by fraudulent documents and irregular migration, making visa approvals increasingly difficult.

Speaking at a press briefing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday, Touhid said: “Let me give you an example. Germany has a world-class education system that is completely free, so Bangladeshi students are naturally very eager to study there. Around 80,000 applications were submitted.

“The German ambassador told me his office can only process 2,000 cases a year. We have asked that Bangladesh be given the same quota as Pakistan, which sends about 9,000 students annually.”

He noted that visa complications had worsened, especially for those applying to countries without embassies in Dhaka.

“For study or work visas, one must appear in person. Many of these embassies are in Delhi, but getting an Indian visa has itself become harder,” he said.

“We’re exploring alternatives, such as allowing applications from another country, like Vietnam, where our citizens were once permitted to apply for Serbian visas.”

When a journalist pointed out that even Vietnam had recently stopped issuing visas to Bangladeshis, Touhid replied: “Visa policy is a sovereign decision. You can never demand that a country issue you one. Still, discussions on this issue continue at the official level.”

On the rise in visa refusals, Touhid was blunt.

“I think we are more responsible than the countries denying us. Many Bangladeshis submit fake documents. And our rate of irregular migration is higher than most. This has damaged our reputation, making it harder even for genuine applicants. We must first put our own house in order.”

Irregular migration refers to working or staying abroad without following legal procedures.

For years, many Bangladeshis have reportedly taken jobs overseas on tourist visas and overstayed.

Responding to a separate question about reports of Bangladeshis dying while fighting for Pakistan’s Tehrik-i-Taliban (TTP), Touhid said such cases were isolated.

“It wouldn’t be right to say ‘Bangladeshis’ are involved. A few individuals may have acted on their own, just as a few were killed in the Ukraine war.

“The government has no connection or support for such activities, wherever they occur,” he said.