Government easing visa process

The government is formulating a new visa policy. This new policy is being drafted by revising the existing visa guidelines formulated back in 2006. The draft was presented at the Cabinet meeting held on Thursday. A cabinet committee, chaired by Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, has been formed to refine the draft.

The decision was taken during the Cabinet meeting held at the Secretariat on Thursday (July 2), with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in the chair. Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Gani disclosed this information to journalists at a press briefing in the conference room of the Press Information Department at the Secretariat following the meeting.

The Cabinet Secretary stated that a cabinet committee headed by the Finance Minister has been formed to make the policy more comprehensive and effective.

Highlighting the limitations of the previous visa system, Nasimul Ghani said, "Earlier, the calculation was based on mutuality. If your people come, I will give them this much visa, for this long, that's the condition. We used to do the same. We will do whatever they give us. But in the international arena, it is seen that we need more in some places. If a businessman comes there, it will be beneficial for me. He will be able to invest in this country. So, in this regard, we have this feeling. That is why we want this government to have an economic thrust."

He further added, "The goal is to ease the visa policy. It is more or less finalized. However, at the end, a cabinet committee has been formed under the chairmanship of the Finance Minister. It includes the Ministry of Home Affairs to oversee security issues, alongside the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Commerce. If they have any further interests that would enrich this policy, those will be incorporated before finalization."

Stating that the visa process is being simplified through the new policy to facilitate the quick arrival of foreign nationals, the Cabinet Secretary noted, "Because we do not have that much capital in our country. The more this capital is invested from the outside, the better it is. Thus, we are trying to attract surpluses from elsewhere."

When asked if any specific categories have been created in the new guidelines, Nasimul Gani replied, "Around 34 types of categories have been created."

Later, a press release from the Cabinet Division informed that the 2006 visa policy is being revised to formulate the new policy with the objectives of making the arrival and departure of foreign nationals in Bangladesh easier and more orderly, attracting foreign investment, business, and skilled human resources, encouraging the tourism and hospitality sector, ensuring technology and knowledge transfer, maintaining national security and international diplomatic balance, and strengthening international travel management on a reciprocal basis. The Ministry of Home Affairs will provide secretarial assistance to the cabinet committee formed under the chairmanship of the Finance Minister to refine the draft.