The government has instructed the Department of Immigration and Passports (DIP) to reinstate the phrase “except Israel” on Bangladeshi passports.
In a directive dated 7 April, the Security Services Division under the Ministry of Home Affairs ordered the DIP to take appropriate measures to restore the condition. The notice, signed by Deputy Secretary Nilima Afroz, was addressed to DIP Director General Major General Md Nurul Anwar.
“In reference to the subject mentioned, you are hereby directed to take necessary steps to reinstate the phrase ‘Except Israel’ on Bangladeshi passports, following proper procedure,” the notice stated.
The phrase had previously appeared as part of a standard disclaimer, “This passport is valid for all countries of the world except Israel.” It was officially removed from e-passports on 23 May 2021 by the former government, citing efforts to align with international standards. A similar process was also initiated to remove the line from machine-readable passports (MRPs).
Despite the change, the travel restriction on Israel for Bangladeshi citizens remained in place.
With the latest directive, the government seeks to restore the original wording, reaffirming the existing travel policy.
