Bangladesh is seeking details from Washington after the United States moved to suspend immigration visas for citizens of 75 countries, including Bangladesh, in hope of a reversal.
The Wednesday midnight news flash in Dhaka about the pause in processing visas for aspirant immigrants stoked concern among officials and prospective migrants alike.
A senior official at Bangladesh's ministry of foreign affairs said Dhaka would determine its next steps only after receiving a comprehensive report on the decision. In the meantime, the Bangladeshi embassy in Washington has been tasked with gathering detailed information through diplomatic channels, the official added.
The US decision, which has not yet been accompanied by a detailed public explanation, is understood to be part of a broader review of immigration and border-control policies of the Trump administration.
Officials in Dhaka have said they were seeking clarity on the scope of the suspension, the categories of visas affected, and whether any exemptions or timelines has been specified.
Bangladesh is one of the world's largest sources of migrant workers, with millions of its citizens living and working abroad. While most Bangladeshi migrants travel to the Middle East and south-east Asia, the United States remains a key destination for family-based immigration, skilled professionals, students transitioning to permanent residency, and members of the Bangladeshi diaspora seeking reunification.
Any prolonged suspension of immigration visas could have significant social and economic consequences, analysts say. Remittances from overseas Bangladeshis play a critical role in supporting the country's economy, while migration has long been viewed as a pathway to social mobility for many families.
The US immigration policy has historically fluctuated in response to domestic political pressures, security concerns and administrative backlogs. Previous measures targeting specific countries or regions have often been justified by Washington on technical grounds such as documentation standards, overstay rates or screening procedures.
Critics, however, argue that such policies disproportionately affect developing countries and undermine longstanding people-to-people ties.
In Dhaka, officials have been careful to strike a measured tone. "We are not rushing to conclusions," the foreign ministry official said, emphasising that Bangladesh would engage constructively with the US once the full details are known.
Diplomatic sources say Dhaka is likely to raise the issue formally if the suspension appeared discriminatory or inconsistent with existing bilateral understandings.
For now, uncertainty looms for many Bangladeshi applicants with pending cases, as well as families awaiting reunification.
Rights advocates urge both governments to communicate transparently and ensure that any policy changes respect due process and humanitarian considerations.
mirmostafiz@yahoo.com