Bangladesh reintroduces 'except Israel' phrase on passports

Bangladesh has restored an "except Israel" inscription on passports, local media reported, effectively barring its citizens from travelling to that country.

Israel is a flashpoint issue in Muslim-majority Bangladesh, which does not recognise it.

The phrase "valid for all countries except Israel," which was printed on Bangladeshi passports for decades, was removed during the later years of ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina's tenure.

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.

In 2021, the words "except Israel" were removed from passports, although the then government under Hasina clarified that the country's stance on Israel had not changed.

Massive crowd of Muslims carry flags during a protest rally called March for Gaza, to express solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, in Dhaka. Reuters

The country's support for an independent Palestinian state was visible on Saturday when around 100,000 protesters gathered in Dhaka in solidarity with Gaza.

They carried hundreds of Palestinian flags and chanted slogans such as "Free, Free Palestine."

Many among them beat the images of US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accusing them of backing Israel. Symbolic coffins and effigies representing civilian casualties were carried during the rally.

Agencies