Chief Adviser urges the EU to relocate visa centers from Delhi to Dhaka or another country

On Monday, Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus urged the European Union (EU) to relocate its visa centers for Bangladeshis from Delhi to Dhaka or another neighboring country.

He made this request during a meeting with a 19-member EU delegation, led by Michael Miller, the Head of Delegation of the European Union to Bangladesh, at the Chief Adviser's Office in Tejgaon, Dhaka.

During the discussion, the Chief Adviser highlighted the issue that due to India's visa restrictions for Bangladeshis, many students are unable to travel to Delhi for EU visa applications. As a result, their educational futures are uncertain, and European universities are missing out on Bangladeshi students. He suggested that relocating the visa centers to Dhaka or a nearby country would benefit both Bangladesh and the EU.

The meeting, which lasted for two and a half hours, saw 15 EU diplomats sharing their views. They discussed topics such as labor rights, trade facilitation, climate change, human rights, the International Crime Tribunal Act, Rohingya repatriation, and efforts to build a sustainable future.

"We are celebrating victory throughout the month of December, and I’m glad to participate in this interactive discussion with you during this month of victory," said Professor Yunus. He paid tribute to the martyrs and the injured from the July-August uprising and outlined the oppression, exploitation, enforced disappearances, and human rights violations under the 16-year-long Awami regime.

The Chief Adviser also addressed how corruption and money laundering have impacted Bangladesh's banking system. He raised concerns over widespread misinformation being spread about Bangladesh and called for EU cooperation in combating it.

He emphasized that Sheikh Hasina, along with her associates, who were forced to flee the country during the July uprising, were attempting to destabilize Bangladesh with the money they had laundered. 

Additionally, the Chief Adviser spoke about his discussions with representatives from various political parties and religious communities in Bangladesh, aimed at fostering national unity and maintaining communal harmony. He also provided detailed information about the interim government’s reform initiatives and the election process.

Foreign Affairs Advisor Md. Touhid Hossain, who also participated in the meeting, mentioned that Bulgaria had already moved its visa center for Bangladeshis to Indonesia and Vietnam and urged other countries to consider doing the same.

The EU representatives expressed their full support for the Chief Adviser in his reform efforts and pledged to assist in building a new Bangladesh through advice and recommendations.