Bangladesh reintroduces ‘except Israel’ phrase on passports

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1. Excerpt-

   The phrase “valid for all countries except Israel,” which was printed on Bangladeshi passports for decades, was removed during the later years of ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s tenure.

   Nilima Afroze, a deputy secretary at the home ministry, told Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) news agency on Sunday that authorities had “issued a directive last week” to restore the inscription

   “The director general of the department of immigration and passport was asked to take necessary measures to implement this change,” local newspaper The Daily Star quoted Afroze as saying on Sunday.

   In 2021, the words “except Israel” were removed from passports, although the then government under Hasina clarified that the country’s stance on Israel had not changed.

   The country’s support for an independent Palestinian state was visible on Saturday when around 100,000 people gathered in Dhaka in solidarity with Gaza.

2. What does it mean? Bangladeshi citizens can’t visit Israel?

3. Couldn’t this be considered a subtle recognition of the State of Israel?

   The phrase “valid for all countries except Israel” implies that Israel is a country to which travel is prohibited, but a country nonetheless.

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