Bangladesh has reinstated the phrase "except Israel" on its passports, barring citizens from traveling to the Jewish state, nearly four years after it was removed.
The move comes in response to growing public anger over Israel’s ongoing attacks on Gaza. A directive has been issued to the Director General of the Department of Immigration and Passports to implement the change, following a notification by the Home Ministry earlier this month.
Previously, Bangladeshi passports carried the inscription: "This passport is valid for all countries of the world except Israel." The phrase was dropped in 2021 under the Awami League government, which claimed the change was to align with international passport standards, though it maintained that Bangladesh’s foreign policy stance on Israel remained unchanged.
The decision was disclosed a day after mass protests erupted in Dhaka, where thousands rallied in solidarity with Palestinians, waving Palestinian flags and chanting "Free, Free Palestine."
