BD has not stopped issuing visas to Pakistanis, says Momen

Bangladesh has not stopped issuing visas to Pakistani nationals, the government said categorically on Tuesday, contradicting media reports.

Earlier, a section of the media reported that the Bangladesh High Commission in Islamabad stopped issuing visas to Pakistani nationals a couple of days ago following non-extension of visa of a Bangladeshi diplomat stationed there.

"We have not stopped issuing visas to Pakistani nationals," Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen told newsmen at his office on Tuesday.

Referring to the media report, he said, "Maybe, some were denied visa, but that does not mean we have stopped issuing visas to Pakistanis."

He also pointed out that many people are often denied visa by different countries due to various reasons.

A diplomatic row between the two countries surfaced a few years ago after Pakistan issued controversial statements on the war crimes trial in Bangladesh.

Recently, Bangladesh refused to accept Saqlain Syeddah as the Pakistani high commissioner in Dhaka.

At the same time, the Pakistan government has not extended the visa of Iqbal Hossain, press counsellor at the Bangladesh High Commission in Islamabad. His visa extension application remained pending for the last four months.

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