Bangladesh halts visa on arrival from January 15 as election security tightens
Dhaka: Bangladesh will suspend its Visa on Arrival (VoA) facility from January 15 to February 15 ahead of the country’s general elections and a national referendum.
Nationals of neighbouring countries such as Bhutan and Nepal were earlier eligible for visa on arrival when travelling to Bangladesh. The government has now formally conveyed the suspension of this facility to the respective governments of those countries.
A senior Bangladeshi government official said that the issuance of visas on arrival will remain suspended for one month, from January 15 to February 15. The restriction will apply to citizens of all countries that normally qualify for Bangladesh’s on-arrival visa programme.
Although he did not explicitly state the reason for this decision, it is widely assumed that it has been taken with the upcoming national parliamentary elections in mind.
Election campaign and security concerns
Since the election campaign will begin on January 22 and major party leaders will travel across the country to hold rallies, the government is likely taking this step to enhance security in border areas and prevent any potential violence during the election period. This kind of measure has reportedly been taken in the past during elections as well.
In addition, Bangladesh has also suspended the issuance of visas from its key missions located in India. Officials have stated that there is no likelihood of resuming these visa services until the election is over. The national parliamentary elections and a public referendum on certain reforms are scheduled to be held in Bangladesh on February 12.
Heightened internal security measures
In the lead-up to the general election and the referendum, Bangladesh has intensified its internal security measures.
The military has been deployed across the country, and army personnel are setting up security checkpoints in various locations. The interim government has already granted the military magisterial powers. In addition to the army, the police force has also been instructed to remain extremely vigilant in carrying out their duties.
ANI