Visa cancellation leaves 130 Palestinian scholarship students in limbo in Bangladesh

At least 130 Palestinian students, mostly girls from Gaza, are now in limbo after the Bangladesh government revoked previously approved visas on arrival, halting their plans to study at the Asian University for Women (AUW) in Chattogram under a scholarship programme, according to the authorities concerned.

In October 2023, Bangladesh had granted arrival visas for 189 Palestinian students following a government decision. They were scheduled to arrive mid-2025 via Jordan. However, in June, Chattogram police verbally informed AUW authorities that the visa permissions had been cancelled under instructions from the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Of the original 189 students, at least 30 are reported missing and presumed dead due to Israeli airstrikes on Gaza.

Diplomatic sources claim internal pressure from certain quarters has led to the visa cancellation. Some officials questioned AUW's legitimacy and argued that Palestinian students should instead attend other private universities in Bangladesh. Multiple sources allege that the Palestinian Embassy in Dhaka played a role in opposing AUW as a destination for these students.

Palestinian Ambassador to Bangladesh, Yousef Ramadan, stated that the embassy supports all scholarships for Palestinian students, especially those from Gaza. However, he emphasized that, in line with the Palestinian government's policy, only scholarships from institutions recognized by the Palestinian Ministry of Education are accepted. AUW reportedly lacks this recognition.

In early August, AUW founder and CEO Kamal Ahmad visited Palestine and met with Palestinian ministers, who thanked him for offering scholarships. Ahmad expressed concern over the abrupt policy shift, pointing out that Bangladesh previously granted arrival visas to students from Afghanistan, Syria, and Yemen without requiring recognition from their respective governments.

“We respectfully urge the government to reinstate the visas and allow these students safe passage to education,” Ahmad said.