Bangladesh restores 'except Israel' ban on passports

Bangladesh has reinstated the phrase "except Israel" on its passports, once again prohibiting citizens from traveling to the country, local media reported.

The wording — “valid for all countries except Israel” — had appeared on Bangladeshi passports for decades, reflecting the country’s refusal to recognize Israeli Occupation. It was removed during the later years of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s administration.

“Authorities issued a directive last week to restore the inscription,” Deputy Secretary at the Home Ministry Nilima Afroze told the state-run Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) news agency.

Afroze added that the Director General of Immigration and Passports had been instructed to implement the change, according to The Daily Star.

Israeli Occupation remains a highly sensitive topic in Muslim-majority Bangladesh, which has long expressed strong support for Palestine.