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Businessmen from Bangladesh getting refused for visas

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October 29, 2000 

Dhaka-- (UNB)- Reluctance in providing multiple entry visas to executive personnel of multinationals operating here made it difficult for Bangladeshi executives to get such travel permission for foreign countries.

Recently a top Bangladeshi executive of a multinational company was refused multiple entry visa from Singapore embassy apparently in a tit-for-tat action.

“We feel this might happen in retaliation for what is done by Bangladesh embassies abroad,” said an executive of Foreign Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).

Expatriates working in top positions of multinational companies here allegedly suffer a lot to get multiple entry visas for Bangladesh. Moreover, managing a work permit for their stay here is also a troublesome task.

The FICCI has long been taking up those matters with the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Board of Investment (BOI) to get the things easier.

Affirmed assurances made by ministers and BOI executive chairman at negotiation table worked little in making visa procedures easier for foreign investors and company executives.

Rather, visa procedures for foreign nationals have further complicated following a circular issued by Home Ministry in February for ‘security reasons’ ahead of Bill Clinton’s Dhaka visit, official sources said.

Top executives of foreign companies very much require multiple entry visas as they have to travel frequently to and from Bangladesh on business trips.

“It is bothersome for them to try for visa for every single entry, or to work with a limited entry visa offered by Bangladesh missions abroad,” an FICCI executive said, referring to inconveniences often cited by the members of the Foreign Chamber.

Top Bangladeshi executives of foreign companies are also facing problems in getting multiple entry visa to visit their regional and head offices in recent times, which FICCI takes as ‘a retaliation for Bangladesh missions’ attitude.’

Since the government in full throat invites foreign investors to come here, it is the duty of the government to make their travel to Bangladesh convenient, he argued.

“Bangladesh’s new investment policy also calls for easing the visa and work permit procedures for foreign investors and company bosses, but the reality is quite different from what is in policies.”