Dhaka: Chief Adviser to the interim government, Dr. Muhammad Yunus, has requested to shift visa center from Delhi to Dhaka or any other neighboring country.
He made this request at a meeting with diplomats from 19 EU countries at the Chief Adviser's office in Tejgaon in the capital on Monday (December 9) at 12 noon.
The 19-member delegation was led by Michael Miller, Head of Delegation of the European Union to Bangladesh. Foreign Affairs Adviser Towhid Hossain participated in the meeting with the Chief Adviser.
In the meeting, which lasted about two and a half hours, 15 representatives presented their views. The meeting discussed labor rights, trade facilitation, climate change, human rights, the International Crime Tribunal Act, the implementation of Rohingya repatriation and the commitments and actions of both sides to build a sustainable future.
The Chief Adviser said, "We celebrate victory throughout the month of December." I am very happy to participate in such an interactive discussion with you in the month of victory.
He paid tribute to the martyrs and injured in the July-August uprising in Bangladesh. During this, he briefly highlighted the oppression, exploitation, enforced disappearances, and human rights violations over the past 16 years. He mentioned the economic white paper and how corruption, money laundering, and the banking system were disrupted.
He mentioned that misinformation is being spread on a large scale about Bangladesh. The Chief Adviser said, we seek your cooperation in stopping this misinformation.
He also said that the dictator Sheikh Hasina and her associates, who were forced to flee the country in the July uprising, are trying to destabilize the country with the huge amount of money they have smuggled.
The Chief Adviser also mentioned the exchange of views with representatives of all political parties and religious communities of Bangladesh with the aim of harmony and national unity in today's meeting.
Professor Muhammad Yunus also briefed the EU representatives in detail about the interim government's reforms and election process.
In today's meeting, the Chief Adviser requested the ambassadors present to shift their visa center for Bangladeshis from Delhi to Dhaka or another neighboring country.
He said that due to India's visa restrictions for Bangladeshis; many students are unable to go to Delhi to get visas for Europe. As a result, uncertainty has arisen about their educational career. Universities in Europe are not accepting Bangladeshi students. If the visa office is shifted to Dhaka or a neighboring country, both Bangladesh and the European Union will benefit.
Foreign Affairs Adviser Towhid Hossain, who was present at the meeting, said that Bulgaria has already shifted its visa center for Bangladeshis to Indonesia and Vietnam. He urged other countries to follow the same process.
The EU representatives expressed their full support to the Chief Adviser in the reform process. They also promised to stand by the side of the government in building a new Bangladesh by providing suggestions and recommendations.