Bangladesh-Pakistan approve visa-free entry for diplomats, govt officials

The Advisory Council has approved the draft of a mutual visa exemption agreement for diplomatic and official passport holders between Bangladesh and Pakistan.

The approval was given at a meeting of the Advisory Council held at the office of the Chief Adviser in Tejgaon in the capital on Thursday (August 21). Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus presided over the meeting, said Shafiqul Alam, press secretary to Chief Adviser, at a briefing at the Foreign Service Academy in the capital this afternoon.

The Press Secretary said: "We have signed similar agreements with 31 other countries like Pakistan for next five years. As a result, those who are using official passports and diplomatic passports will now be able to visit Pakistan without a visa. Similarly, those who are using official and diplomatic passports of Pakistan will also be able to visit Bangladesh without a visa. This is a standard practice."

Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumdar said that the Pakistani government has given its consent to this agreement.