Bangladesh restores ‘except Israel’ clause in passports

Bangladesh has restored a clause in its passports stating they are valid for all countries except Israel.

According to Bangladeshi media, the sentence “valid for all countries except Israel” has once again been included in Bangladeshi passports. The government of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina removed the wording from passports in 2020.

Speaking to journalists, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said the condition excluding Israel would again be added to ordinary passports, while the restriction has already been enforced on diplomatic passports.

Sources in Bangladesh’s Ministry of Home Affairs and the Department of Immigration and Passports said the decision was being reinstated in line with the country’s longstanding foreign policy on the Palestinian issue, public sentiment and its moral position.