Bangladesh assures passports for 69,000 Rohingya in Saudi Arabia

Bangladesh has assured the expedited issuance of passports to 69,000 Rohingya residents in Saudi Arabia, officials said on Thursday (January 15).

The announcement came during a courtesy meeting between Home Affairs Adviser Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Mohammad Jahangir Alam Chowdhury and Saudi Ambassador to Bangladesh Dr. Abdullah Jafar bin Abiyyah at the adviser’s office.

According to the Ministry of Home Affairs’ deputy chief information officer Foysal Hasan, the discussion covered the progress of passport issuance for Rohingya in Saudi Arabia, manpower export, bilateral trade enhancement, preparations for Bangladesh’s national elections, and Bangladesh’s participation in the upcoming World Defense Show in Saudi Arabia, among other mutual interests.

Responding to the ambassador’s query on the passport process, Jahangir Alam said significant progress had been made. The Passport Directorate and the Bangladesh mission in Saudi Arabia are working in coordination, with a special team dispatched from Dhaka to accelerate the process.

However, he noted that the turnout for passport enrolment has been slightly lower than expected, and Saudi authorities, including the Interior Ministry, have been informed.

The initiative underscores Bangladesh’s commitment to facilitating legal documentation for Rohingya living abroad and strengthening bilateral cooperation with Saudi Arabia.