Dhaka (Europe Brief News): Retd. Lieutenant General Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, the Home Affairs Adviser of Bangladesh, has requested the European Union to open a visa facility centre in Dhaka for its member countries.
The Home Affairs Advisor, Retd. Lieutenant General Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury had a meeting with the European Union Ambassador to Bangladesh Michael Miller at his Home Ministry office at Bangladesh Secretariat on Monday, April 21, 2025.
Delegates from both the European Union and Bangladesh were present at the meeting, including Additional Secretary (Political and ICT) Khandaker Md. Mahabubur Rahman of the Public Security Division, Joint Secretary of the Political-1 Branch Md. Jasim Uddin Khan, Counselor of the EU Delegation in Dhaka Jurate Smalskyte Merville, First Secretary (Political) Sebastisn Riger-Brown.
Md. Jahangir has requested to open a dedicated visa centre in Dhaka for the member States of the European Union, whose visas are not issued from Dhaka. During the meeting the adviser discussed critical bilateral and regional issues with the EU Ambassador to Bangladesh, Michael Miller.
The Home Ministry’s press statement revealed that the meeting concentrated on a diverse range of issues which included Bangladesh’s law enforcement status and the Rohingya refugee problem together with immigration concerns as well as human trafficking prevention and the country’s reform initiatives.
Why did Bangladesh request the EU to open a visa centre in Dhaka?
The Home Affairs Advisor said that the visa centre must be established in Dhaka as “it is difficult, expensive and time consuming to obtain a visa for EU countries by going to the Indian capital, New Delhi.”
Jahangir emphasized that Bangladesh stands as an elite provider of workers to European Union territories. Multiple Bangladeshi citizens consistently visit European Union member states to fulfill business, trade, educational, medical, tourism and health-related pursuits.
Bangladesh stands among the ten most populated nations worldwide in terms of population figures whereas the European Union serves as its primary partner for development projects, he stated.
In response to the Home Affairs Advisor request, the EU ambassador said that the matter will be raised for discussion with representatives from EU member countries.
What other requests the Home Affairs Advisor made to the EU ambassador?
Retd. Lieutenant General Md. Jahangir Alam said that the EU has been significantly advancing trade, business, and infrastructure in Bangladesh ever since its establishment. He requested to organize training workshops in EU countries for Bangladeshi personnel due to the lack of professional experience.
The EU Ambassador said to Jahangir that Bangladesh can receive assistance from the EU to support its ongoing reforms through needed skills and training resources and professional expertise.
The Home Adviser informed the EU ambassador on the law and order situation in Bangladesh, stated, “The law and order situation in the country is satisfactory”
The EU ambassador has stated his intention to provide full help in improving security capabilities and economic growth.
Jahangir stated that officially, there are 1.2 million Rohingyas in Bangladesh. However, in reality there are more refugees staying in Cox’s Bazar that are a clear threat to the region’s law and order.
The Home Adviser continued that “various law enforcement organizations have been coordinating with one another to improve security and maintain law and order, domestic and foreign organizations are also working to improve the overall quality of life of the Rohingyas.”
The Home Adviser requested the EU to provide leadership and take necessary initiatives regarding human trafficking and smuggling.
During the meeting the EU ambassador declared their intention to establish close collaboration with Bangladesh to fight human trafficking and smuggling operations. He noted that substantial numbers of Bangladeshis alongside Middle Eastern residents use Libya as a passage point to enter Europe. People suffer financial losses and face deaths when they get trapped by brokers and human traffickers.
He stated a tripartite conversation could be arranged between Bangladesh, Libya and the EU to address illegal migration and human trafficking and a memorandum of agreement might be signed later in this respect
