Akash Chowdhury, not real name, a young journalist from Bangladesh, secured a full scholarship for a one-year postgraduate course at the Asian College of Journalism in Chennai, India. His classes began on June 26 –but he is still stuck in Dhaka. The reason? He has not received his Indian visa yet.Akash applied on June 11 but remains in limbo, fearing he might lose the opportunity. He had already left a permanent job to pursue his academic dreams, and now finds himself caught in uncertainty.He is not alone.Bangladeshis are increasingly facing delays or outright rejections when applying for visas – to India, Southeast Asia, Europe, the United States, and even countries that once offered easier access.
A growing trend of rejection
Kona Karim, a frequent traveller to Thailand for both business and leisure, was stunned when her visa application was rejected this April – despite a passport filled with previous Thai, European, and US visas.
A Dhaka-based businessman who regularly travels to China for work also found himself unexpectedly denied a visa in June – this after six trips over the past three years without issue. “I was completely unprepared for this,” he said, requesting anonymity. “There’s no way to know why it was rejected.”
Visa rejections have become alarmingly common across all categories – education, medical treatment, tourism, and business. Even celebrities and influencers are not exempt.
Nadir Nibras, a well-known Bangladeshi travel blogger and YouTuber who runs a popular channel Nadir On The Go, recently shared his frustration online after being denied e-visas for Tajikistan, Moldova, and Bahrain – despite holding valid visas for the US, UK, and Australia, and having sufficient funds.
“In reality, getting a visa with a Bangladeshi passport is not as easy as it seems,” he wrote on Facebook on July 4. “Even a simple country like Tajikistan turned me down after three weeks.”
Medical visas to India too remain limited
Since the ousting of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during last year’s July uprising, diplomatic tensions between Bangladesh and India have spilled into consular services. While the Indian High Commission in Dhaka claims that visas are available for urgent cases – especially medical emergencies – many applicants say they are still unable to obtain them.
Indian High Commissioner Pranab Verma recently told Jago News that emergency medical visas are being prioritised, and regular visa processing will resume gradually.
However, sources at the High Commission note that many staff members have not returned to Dhaka since August 5 due to security concerns, leading to staffing shortages.
Western doors closing tighter
Visa challenges are particularly acute for Western countries. A Bangladeshi student preparing to join the University of Oklahoma at his own expense described how months of preparation ended in just two minutes when his US visa was denied.
“I watched 10-12 others ahead of me get rejected too – mostly students,” he said. “Even Mir Snigdho, brother of martyr Mir Mugho, came back disappointed with his wife.”
A US embassy official told Jago News, “The decision rests solely with the consular officer after verifying documents. Not even the ambassador can interfere.”
Regional shift and diplomatic concerns
Travel agencies and aviation experts confirm the trend.
Russell Khan, a marketing officer at Mubin Air Services, noted that Southeast Asian countries like Thailand, Vietnam, and Singapore, which once granted visas more freely, are now rejecting applications at higher rates.
Kazi Wahiduddin Alam, editor of The Monitor, a magazine focused on aviation and tourism, attributed the change to increased illegal migration from Bangladesh and ongoing political instability.
“There's a need for high-level diplomatic dialogue to address this growing problem,” he added.
More scrutiny, fewer excuses
A VFS Global employee, who assists in visa processing, confirmed that while their role is administrative, rejection rates among Bangladeshi applicants have sharply risen.
“This situation isn't new,” the employee said. “We saw similar patterns during the 2014 political crisis. Political instability always affects visa policies abroad.”
Additional Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nazrul Islam, however, said there is no official data showing an increase in rejections. “Many applicants don’t submit proper or genuine documents,” he said. “Globally, visa scrutiny has increased – not just for Bangladeshis.”
Lutfey Siddiqui, Special Envoy for International Affairs to the Chief Adviser, echoed the concern at an event on July 2, calling out the widespread use of fake certificates and bank statements.
“This tendency is contributing to visa complications,” he said. “Punitive action must be taken against those submitting fraudulent documents.”