Bangladesh restores ‘Except Israel’ wording on passports
Government says change aligns travel documents with Bangladesh's longstanding refusal to recognize Israel and its support for Palestinian statehood
DHAKA, Bangladesh (MNTV) — Bangladesh has ordered the restoration of the phrase “Except Israel” on newly issued passports, reversing a decision made six years ago to remove the wording and reaffirming the country’s longstanding policy of not recognizing Israel.
The Ministry of Home Affairs issued the directive, instructing the Department of Immigration and Passports to begin introducing the revised passports.
Officials said the change was intended to bring the country’s travel documents into line with Bangladesh’s foreign policy and its longstanding support for the Palestinian cause.
Bangladesh does not maintain diplomatic relations with Israel and has historically barred its citizens from traveling there. For decades, Bangladeshi passports carried the statement that they were valid for travel to all countries except Israel.
The phrase was removed in 2021 under the government of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina when Bangladesh introduced electronic passports, although authorities at the time stressed that the policy of non-recognition remained unchanged.
The wording’s removal drew criticism from Islamic groups and pro-Palestinian organizations, which argued that the change weakened Bangladesh’s symbolic support for Palestine.
Calls to restore the restriction intensified following Israel’s genocide in Gaza, which has fueled pro-Palestinian demonstrations across Bangladesh and much of the Muslim world.
Officials said newly issued passports will once again carry the phrase “Except Israel,” while existing passports will remain valid until they are renewed.
The government also approved a redesigned e-passport featuring new security watermarks and imagery reflecting Bangladesh’s national heritage and the July 2024 mass uprising that led to the fall of the Awami League government. The updated design also incorporates symbols representing the country’s major religions.
The restoration comes months after the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) formed a government following the February parliamentary elections. Officials said the passport revisions were part of a broader review of state symbols undertaken by the new administration.
Bangladesh has consistently supported the establishment of an independent Palestinian state and has repeatedly condemned Israeli military operations in the occupied Palestinian territories and Gaza.
The passport change does not alter the country’s foreign policy but reinforces a position that has remained largely unchanged since Bangladesh came into existence in 1971.
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