Chief Adviser urges EU states to move visa centres from Delhi to Dhaka

Dhaka: Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on December 9 urged diplomats of the European Union (EU) member states to move their visa centres from New Delhi to Dhaka or a neighbouring country.

He made the request during a meeting with EU diplomats at his office in the capital, read a release from the CA's press wing.

“As India restricts visas for Bangladeshis, many students are unable to go to Delhi to get visas for Europe. As a result, they face uncertainty about their education,” expressed the Chief Adviser.  

Therefore, if the visa offices are moved to Dhaka or a neighbouring country, both Bangladesh and the European Union will benefit, added Yunus.

Foreign Affairs Adviser Touhid Hossain, present at the meeting, mentioned, Bulgaria has already shifted its visa centre for Bangladeshis to Indonesia and Vietnam. He urged other countries to consider.

The 19-member EU delegation was led by Michael Miller, Ambassador and Head of Delegation of the European Union to Bangladesh.

The envoys who participated in the meeting are: Christian Brix Møller, Ambassador of Denmark to Bangladesh; Marie Masdupuy, Ambassador of France to Bangladesh; Achim Tröster, Ambassador of Germany to Bangladesh; Antonio Alessandro, Ambassador of Italy to Bangladesh; Gabriel Sistiaga Ochoa de Chinchetru, Ambassador of Spain to Bangladesh; Nicholas Weeks, Ambassador of Sweden to Bangladesh; Michael Miller, Ambassador and Head of the EU Delegation to Bangladesh; Andre Carstens, CDA a.i., Embassy of the Netherlands in Dhaka.

Heads/Representatives of EU Missions in New Delhi: Didier Vanderhasselt, Ambassador of Belgium to Bangladesh; Nikolay Yankov, Ambassador of Bulgaria to Bangladesh; Marje LUUP, Ambassador of Estonia to Bangladesh; Peggy FRANTZEN, Ambassador of Luxembourg to Bangladesh; Róbert Maxián, Ambassador of Slovakia to Bangladesh; Evagoras Vryonides, High Commissioner-designate of Cyprus to Bangladesh; Gabor Szucs, First Secretary, Dhaka Office of the Hungarian Embassy in New Delhi; Jaroslaw Jerzy Groberek, Counsellor, Poland Embassy in New Delhi; Sofia Batalha, Deputy Head of Mission, Portugal Embassy in New Delhi; Irma Šinkovec, First Secretary, Embassy of Slovenia in New Delhi; Ruxandra CIOCANELEA, Second Secretary, Embassy of Romania in New Delhi.

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