New visa policy soon: Babar

The new policy is likely to classify foreign nationals into 26 categories on the basis of their professions and services, and will help detect those overstaying in the country.

"Since our existing visa policy is backdated and not a comprehensive one, many foreigners are overstaying in the country taking the advantage," said State Minister for Home Affairs Lutfozzaman Babar while emerging from an inter-ministerial meeting on visa policy at the home ministry yesterday.

The meeting has completed 40-50 percent works and will need one or two more meetings to complete the task, he said.

The first visa policy, which was formulated in 1991, had 10 categories and the one amended in 2001 had 11 categories.

As the government is facing difficulties in issuing visa for diverse objectives of the visits by foreign nationals and their unspecified location in the country, it formed a committee headed by the joint secretary (political) of the home ministry to amend and update the policy.

After studying the visa policy of other countries and existing MoUs on visa with India, Pakistan, China, Myanmar and Vietnam, a draft visa policy has been formulated suggesting 26 categories.

It has suggested amendment to clauses like 'no visa required' and 'visa on arrival' and fine for unauthorised stay and visa fee.

"The existing visa policy is quite cumbersome. The new policy will remove complications in issuing visas to foreign officials, investors, businessmen, buyers and NGO people," said Babar.

He, however, failed to say how many foreign nationals are now overstaying in Bangladesh.

Participants at the meeting also discussed in details issuing visas to foreign journalists, and officials of home and information ministries will meet soon to finalise its modalities.

They hoped that Bangladesh's relation with other countries would improve once the complications in issuing visa are removed.

When asked, Babar said work for introducing machine-readable passport is in the final stage, adding, "We'll be able to take it to the highest level meeting in one or one-and-a half month."

He also stressed the need for setting up of National Registration Department to preserve all sorts of information.

Home Secretary, education secretary, acting foreign secretary, director general (passport) and other officials concerned attended the meeting.