Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia discuss progress on issuing passports to Rohingyas living in kingdom
Dhaka: Bangladesh has made significant progress in issuing Bangladeshi passports to Rohingyas residing in Saudi Arabia, Home Affairs Adviser Lieutenant General (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said during a meeting with Saudi Ambassador to Bangladesh Dr. Abdullah Zafer Bin Abiyah on January 15.
The meeting was held at the Home Ministry at the Bangladesh Secretariat, where both sides discussed bilateral issues, with particular emphasis on the passport documentation of around 69,000 Rohingyas—displaced Myanmar nationals—currently living in Saudi Arabia.
The Saudi ambassador sought an update on the status of passport issuance, to which the adviser said that work was progressing steadily. He noted that the Bangladesh mission in Saudi Arabia and the Department of Immigration and Passports were jointly working on the matter, and several special teams from the Home Ministry had been dispatched to accelerate the process.
However, the adviser pointed out that despite a large number of applications, the attendance rate for biometric enrollment remained low, which was slowing down the overall process. He added that the issue had already been conveyed to the Saudi Interior Minister for necessary cooperation.
During the meeting, broader bilateral matters were also discussed, including manpower export, trade expansion, and preparations for Bangladesh’s upcoming national election. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury reaffirmed that maintaining law and order during the election period was the responsibility of the Home Ministry and said security forces were fully prepared.
The Saudi ambassador also invited Bangladesh to participate in the World Defense Show, scheduled to be held in Riyadh from 8 to 14 February 2026. The adviser said he would be unable to attend due to Bangladesh’s 13th national parliamentary election on 12 February but assured that a suitable representative would be sent.
Senior officials from the Home Ministry were also present at the meeting.
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