UK MP Apsana Begum urges to reconsider fee hike for NVR

British Bangladeshi MP Apsana Begum has urged the Bangladesh High Commission to reconsider its recent decision to increase fees for four services, including the No Visa Required (NVR) endorsement.

“I have requested the Bangladesh High Commission to reassess the decision on raising the NVR fees,” Apsana said on Friday, adding: “Many Bangladeshis feel that the newly fixed fee is unreasonably high.”

The fee for the NVR endorsement, which applies to foreign passport holders, including those with British passports, has been raised from €46 to €70.

The decision has sparked outrage and strong reactions within the British Bangladeshi community since the news broke a week ago.

An estimated several hundred thousand British Bangladeshis hold British citizenship and passports but require an NVR endorsement to travel to Bangladesh.

The fee hike comes at a time when thousands of British Bangladeshi families are travelling to Bangladesh for the December holidays, making the timing of the increase particularly contentious.

Members of the British Bangladeshi community have voiced concerns about the lack of consultation and advance notice before implementing the new fees.

Officials at the Bangladesh High Commission in London clarified that while the government has announced the increase effective from December 4, the High Commission is still charging the old rates. They plan to implement the new fees starting December 17.
The High Commission confirmed that other service fees remain unchanged.