Bangladesh is in discussion with Washington to address a new US visa-bond issue, said foreign affairs adviser Md Touhid Hossain on Thursday.
The new visa requirement has placed the country among 38 nations whose citizens must provide a financial guarantee when applying to travel to the United States.
Speaking at a briefing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dhaka on Thursday, Hossain described Bangladesh's inclusion on the list as "unfortunate and painful" but not unexpected, pointing to long-standing concerns in US immigration data.
The visa bond policy, recently introduced by the United States, requires applicants from selected countries to post a bond as a condition of entry, a measure aimed at discouraging overstays and misuse of immigration systems. Bangladesh's placement alongside other countries with high rates of irregular migration has sparked concern among prospective travellers and policymakers in Dhaka.
"The decision taken by the USA is not only about Bangladesh," Hossain said. "Bangladesh is included among many other countries that have immigration-related problems. If you look at American statistics, you will see that among those who go there and draw money from their social system, Bangladeshis are also included. So it does not seem very abnormal to me that Bangladesh would be on such a list. Still, it is certainly distressing."
Hossain sought to distance the current interim administration from responsibility for the developments that led to the policy. He
argued that irregular migration patterns had been entrenched for years and could not be attributed to the actions of the government in the past year alone.
"If this problem had emerged in the last year, I would say the government bears responsibility," he said. "But this has been going on for a long time. Policy responsibility, if you are looking for it, lies with successive governments before us. No government has the capacity to fully stop people's movement."
From the outset, he added, the current administration has taken a firm stance against irregular migration, warning that the human cost of dangerous journeys was being normalised in public discourse.
Hossain criticised what he described as a tendency in Bangladeshi media to portray those attempting perilous crossings to Europe as victims alone. "Of course they are victims," he said, referring to migrants who die or are rescued while crossing the Mediterranean. "But at the same time, they are also lawbreakers. The young man from a village who travels to Kenya on a tourist visa does not actually have the means to go there for tourism. Why can't we stop this?"
Until such practices are halted, he warned, deaths along irregular migration routes would continue. While acknowledging that frank discussion of the issue could appear insensitive, Hossain said preventing further tragedies must be the priority.
He argued that meaningful action would require identifying and prosecuting those who profit from irregular migration. "If you cannot arrest the people who take money and send others on these routes, this problem will not be solved," he said. "We will show sympathy to the victims, but we must also go after those who make them victims. That will require procedures - and social support."
The foreign adviser noted that the interim government's limited tenure meant that sustained public cooperation would be necessary, regardless of who holds power in the future.
Responding to a question, the adviser voiced support for comments made by the sports adviser, Asif Nazrul, regarding Bangladesh's participation in sporting events in India. He said ensuring the safety of players and supporters was paramount.
"A cricketer will go, play, and return," Hossain said. "But if security cannot be guaranteed, how can we trust that our team and supporters will be safe?"
Citing what he described as anti-Bangladesh rhetoric and activities by Hindutva organisations, Hossain said it would be genuinely difficult for Indian agencies to ensure adequate security under current circumstances. "We will play," he said, "but we will play outside India."
Asked whether this stance could affect trade relations with New Delhi, Hossain acknowledged that some negative impact was likely but stressed that Bangladesh would act pragmatically. "Where our interests are clearly involved, we will not deliberately harm them," he said. "Our interest, in this case, lies in not sending people where their security is in question."
At the same time, he added, economic considerations would prevail where necessary. "If it is in our interest to buy rice at a lower price, and India exports it and our traders purchase it, I see no problem in that."
Hossain also said India had been asked to keep visa issuance suspended because of security concerns related to diplomatic missions, underscoring the broader strain in bilateral relations amid a shifting regional and global landscape.
