Bangladesh U-turns over Israel policy, restoring 'except Israel' inscription over passports amid public outrage over the war in Gaza | Today news

Bangladesh reinstated the controversial “except Israel” inscription on his passports, preventing citizens from traveling to the Jewish state. This decision comes in the wake of public anger over Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip. Officials issued by the Interior Ministry on Sunday revealed that the Ministry of Home Affairs had issued an assignment to order the passport and immigration division to the phrase “This passport is valid for all countries in the world except Israel” to official travel documents. Nilima Afroze, Deputy Secretary of the Security Services Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs, confirmed that the Richtien was issued on April 7. “The letter was released on April 7,” Afroze said, referring to the reinstatement of the controversial sentence in passports. Conversion of the 2021 decision the phrase was previously dropped in 2021 under the government of the then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. At the time, officials explained that the removal was to align the passport with international standards. However, with the recent escalation of violence in Gaza and the growing public scream, the government has decided to reinstate the wording. Public protests in Dhaka The move follows large -scale protests in Dhaka, where thousands of protesters took the streets to condemn Israeli action in Gaza. Protesters wore Palestinian flags and sang slogans like ‘free, free Palestine’. The most important rally took place in Suhrawardy Udyan, near the University of Dhaka, where protesters expressed their strong disapproval of Israeli military action. Some protesters burn the leading figures, including US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who accuse them of supporting Israel’s actions in Gaza. Political and religious groups support the rally the rally was supported by various political and religious groups. Former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia’s Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and right -wing Islamic organizations expressed Solidarity with the demonstration. First published: 13 Apr 2025, 08:19 IST