‘Except Israel’ to be reinstated in passports

The words “Except Israel” are being reinstated in Bangladesh’s regular passports, a decision already implemented for diplomatic ones.

Sources from the Department of Immigration and Passports and the Ministry of Home Affairs confirmed that changes will also be made to around a dozen watermark images on the inner pages of the passport.

Bangladesh does not have, nor has it ever had, diplomatic relations with Israel. Since independence, Bangladeshi passports have historically carried the statement: “This passport is valid for all countries of the world except Israel,” thereby discouraging citizens from travelling to Israel.

The clause was removed in late 2020 during the Awami League government without any formal announcement.

The Department of Immigration and Passports has now submitted a proposal to the home ministry to reintroduce the “Except Israel” clause. According to sources, the ministry has agreed and will send it to the head of government for final approval.

Contacted, the department’s Director General Maj Gen Nurul Anwar said the proposal was not initiated by his department. “This is a decision taken from the highest level. It has already been implemented for diplomatic passports,” he said.

Home ministry sources said the decision was originally planned during the interim government, and an order was issued on April 7 last year. However, it was not implemented widely except for diplomatic passports, leading to the current move for full enforcement.

Changes are also being made to passport watermark images. New additions will include Abu Sayed with outstretched arms -- symbolising the July uprising, along with Bangabhaban, Jamdani saree, jackfruit, hilsa, mango orchards, Tanguar Haor, Nilgiri, and Panam City. The existing image of Cox’s Bazar beach will be replaced.

At the same time, several images will be removed, including Dhanmondi 32, the mausoleum of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in Tungipara, the Independence Monument at Suhrawardy Udyan, model mosques, Kantajew Temple, Jamuna Bridge, Padma Bridge, Metro Rail, Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, and the Mujibnagar Memorial.