‘Except Israel’ inscription reintroduced in Bangladeshi passports amid public anger over Gaza situation

An anti-Israel protest in Dhaka (AP)

Bangladesh’s interim authorities introduced on Sunday it has reintroduced the “except Israel” inscription on the nation’s passports, formally debarring its residents from travelling to the Jewish state.
“We issued the letter to the passport and immigration department on April 7,” Nilima Afroze, deputy secretary of the Bangladesh house ministry, instructed the state-run Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) information company.
The assertion “THIS PASSPORT IS VALID FOR ALL COUNTRIES OF THE WORLD EXCEPT ISRAEL” was dropped from the official journey paperwork in May 2021 throughout the tenure of the Awami League authorities of then-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. In August final 12 months, the federal government collapsed after Hasina resigned and got here to India following weeks of student-led protests in opposition to her.
The caretaker administration led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus took cost on August 8, three days after Hasina’s ouster.
Why was the ‘besides Israel’ textual content dropped from Bangladeshi passports?
According to BSS, the authorities on the time had stated the aim was to “maintain international standards of the document” and maintained there could be “no change” to Dhaka’s decades-long coverage of journey ban to Israel.
However, after the textual content was eliminated, Bangladeshi nationals have been allowed journey to Israel from a 3rd nation if they might get hold of a visa.
The two nations do not need diplomatic ties. Dhaka helps an impartial Palestine.
Why is it being reintroduced?
The inscription has been introduced again at a time when there’s widespread anger in India’s jap neighbour over Israel’s army offensive in Palestine’s Gaza Strip.
Also Read: At least 72 arrested throughout Bangladesh after anti-Israel protests flip violent
On Saturday, 1000’s of protesters rallied in the capital Dhaka with Palestinian flags and chanted slogans like “Free, Free Palestine.”
The most important protest was held on the Suhrawardy Udyan close to the premier Dhaka University. Several protesters “beat” the pictures of US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party of former prime minister Khaleda Zia, in addition to Islamic teams and different political events expressed solidarity with the rally.