Yunus urges EU to shift visa centers from Delhi to Dhaka

Chief Adviser Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus has called on European countries to relocate their visa centers for Bangladeshis from Delhi to Dhaka or another neighbouring country.

He made this call during a meeting with European Union diplomats on Monday at the Chief Adviser's office in Tejgaon, Dhaka.

A 19-member delegation, led by Michael Miller, Head of Delegation of the European Union to Bangladesh, attended the two-and-a-half-hour meeting. The discussion covered a wide range of topics, including labor rights, trade facilitation, climate change, human rights, the International Crime Tribunal Act, Rohingya repatriation, and sustainable development initiatives.

During the meeting, Dr. Yunus expressed his gratitude, stating, “We celebrate victory throughout the month of December. I am delighted to engage in such an interactive discussion during this significant month of victory.”

He paid tribute to the martyrs and injured individuals of the July-August uprising in Bangladesh and provided a brief overview of the oppression, enforced disappearances, and human rights violations of the past 16 years. He also highlighted issues of corruption, money laundering, and disruptions to the banking system, which were outlined in the interim government’s economic white paper.

Dr Yunus emphasised the spread of misinformation about Bangladesh and sought the EU’s cooperation in addressing it. 

He accused the ousted Sheikh Hasina regime of attempting to destabilize the country using funds laundered abroad, following their exile after the July uprising.

The Chief Adviser also discussed efforts to foster national unity by engaging with representatives of all political and religious communities in Bangladesh. Additionally, he briefed EU diplomats on the interim government’s reform agenda and election preparations.

Dr Yunus strongly advocated for the relocation of European visa centers closer to Bangladesh, citing challenges faced by students and professionals.

"India’s visa restrictions for Bangladeshis have made it difficult for many students to travel to Delhi for European visas, jeopardising their education. Relocating visa offices to Dhaka or a nearby country would benefit both Bangladesh and the EU," he said.

Foreign Affairs Adviser Touhid Hossain echoed this sentiment, noting that Bulgaria has already shifted its visa centers for Bangladeshis to Indonesia and Vietnam. He urged other EU nations to adopt a similar approach.

The EU diplomats expressed their full support for the interim government’s reform process. They pledged to assist the administration with advice and recommendations to help build a stable and prosperous Bangladesh.