Bangladesh renews ‘except for Israel’ inscription on passports

Bangladesh has restored an “except Israel” inscription on passports, local media reported Sunday, effectively barring its citizens from traveling to Israel.

Bangladesh, a country with a large Muslim population, does not recognize Israel, making it a hot button issue. The phrase “valid for all countries except Israel,” which was printed on Bangladeshi passports for decades, was removed in 2021 during the later years of ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s tenure. However, Hasina’s government at the time clarified that the country’s stance on Israel had not changed.

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 Sunday.

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

Local media reported on Sunday that Bangladesh has reinstated the "except Israel" inscription on passports, effectively prohibiting its citizens from traveling to Israel. Israel is a flashpoint issue in Muslim-majority Bangladesh, which does not recognize it.

The phrase “valid for all countries except Israel,” which was printed on Bangladeshi passports for decades, was removed in 2021 during the later years of ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s tenure. However, the country's position on Israel had not changed, according to the Hasina government at the time. 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 Sunday.

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

Demonstrators beat the images of US President Donald Trump, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi because of their support for Israel.

Symbolic coffins and effigies representing civilian casualties in Gaza were also carried during the rally.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party, headed by former prime minister Khaleda Zia, and other Islamist groups and parties expressed their solidarity with the rally.

The war in Gaza broke out on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led terrorists invaded Israel, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapping 251.

A fragile ceasefire between the warring parties fell apart last month. Since then, the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry has said that at least 1,574 Palestinians have been killed. This figure cannot be independently verified and does not differentiate between civilians and combatants.

Israel has said it seeks to minimize civilian fatalities and stresses that Hamas uses Gaza’s civilians as human shields, fighting from civilian areas including homes, hospitals, schools and mosques.

In a reaffirmation of its longstanding foreign policy stance, Bangladesh has renewed the controversial phrase “valid for all countries of the world except Israel” on its new e-passports. The move has reignited debate over the nation’s diplomatic position and its implications for international relations.

Since Bangladesh gained independence in 1971, the statement, which can be found on all Bangladeshi passports, prohibits holders from traveling to Israel. Bangladesh has maintained its policy steadfastly, citing solidarity with the Palestinian people as a central reason, in spite of global shifts and the growing diplomatic recognition of Israel by some Muslim-majority nations. The inscription was temporarily removed from the e-passport system in 2020, which sparked speculation that Bangladesh might be changing its position. However, the government quickly clarified that the removal was not a shift in foreign policy but rather a technical oversight. The phrase has been officially reinstated with the most recent round of passport updates, confirming the nation's unwavering position. Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud reiterated Bangladesh's support for a two-state solution and emphasized that normalizing relations with Israel is not currently under consideration. He stated that the inscription reflects Bangladesh’s commitment to international justice and the rights of Palestinians.

Reactions to the renewal have been varying. The phrase, according to supporters, reflects Bangladesh's strong stance on human rights and its alignment with the Muslim world as a whole. Critics, however, view it as outdated and restrictive, especially as global travel becomes more interconnected.

As the geopolitical landscape continues to evolve, Bangladesh’s position underscores the complex balance many nations navigate between diplomatic principles and practical global engagement. For now, the inscription stands as a clear symbol of Bangladesh’s enduring foreign policy identity.