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Foreign visitors in visa juggernaut

200 refused on-arrival visa so far, foreign office yet to provide list of 'no-visa' countries to ZIA

M ANWARUL HAQ
Nearly 200 foreign nationals have been refused visa on arrival or landing permit (LP) since the government imposed new restrictions and immigration procedures on April 18, sources said.
Those who were denied +entry included citizens of the US, the UK, Germany, France, Malaysia, Morocco, Japan and Chad.
On Thursday, 27 foreigners including a British and a Turkish nationals were refused entry. A group of 25 Malaysians, who came for Tablig, were also turned down.
A Norwegian on an educational tour was also stopped at the Zia International Airport (ZIA) yesterday. Later, intervention by the home and education ministries finally helped him get visa on arrival.
But most of the foreigners, who face hitch at ZIA, are not so lucky. They sometimes have to wait for three or four days in the transit lounge in distress since the airport does not have the barest of accommodation facilities.
There are also complaints that prospective foreign investors are also facing undue delays and harassment in getting their visas extended.
Besides, procurement of income tax clearance certificate by departing foreigners has caused both anxiety and undue problems for foreign nationals who make short stay here.
A government order on April 18 clamped new immigration restrictions. The home ministry order
began with the statement that it was simplifying procedures for foreign nationals to encourage foreign investment. But in reality, it made rules more 'complicated and ambiguous'.
Immigration officials and several foreigners told The Daily Star that the new orders were complex and could not be easily interpreted.
In another recent move, an official of the national board of revenue has been posted at the airport and every departing foreigner has to produce either an income tax exemption certificate or a tax payment certificate prior to boarding aircraft.
Although the new rules speak of 'simplifying' entry procedures, it has ostensibly been imposed to keep a closer watch on foreigners entering Bangladesh, particularly those having links to media or religious organisations.
Immigration officials handling incoming passengers at the ZIA said they are facing lots of difficulties and are often in dilemma over handling foreigners.
The authorities have mentioned that citizens coming from countries with which Bangladesh has reciprocal 'no-visa' agreement will be granted on-arrival visas. But no list of such countries has been provided to the immigration officials at the airport, sources concerned said.
The authorities have also stated that citizens coming from countries having Bangladesh missions
should procure visa in advance and will not be entitled to on-arrival visas. But the foreign ministry has also not provided a list of these countries to the immigration officials. And so, they have to make several phone calls to ensure visa status of foreigners.
Although several people do arrive without any visa, they ultimately manage to secure entry after pleading with immigration officials and lengthy efforts to convince higher officials of their bonafide reasons for coming to Bangladesh.
In several cases, the incoming foreigners have to seek intervention of their embassies.
The lucky ones are those who arrive during office hours. But those who arrive at odd hours or during holidays find themselves in real mess as they have to either depart or wait till they get some help from higher authorities.
An ambassador of a western country said, "Your government has the right to frame its own immigration rules. But how can a foreign national know in advance that the rules have been changed? You implemented the new immigration rules, restricting on-arrival visas the very day a circular was issued here. What you should have done is to inform it to your missions at least three months in advance and to put the new rules on the web site. The government web sites do not contain any updated immigration information."
The government has also
decided not to extend visa to those who are granted landing permit on arrival. The new rules permit a maximum of 30-day entry as against the previous of 90 days'.
Investors coming with their families are also facing problems. Although the rules provide for issuance of on-arrival visa to a businessman, nothing has been mentioned about his spouse or children, if they accompanied them. So, in such cases the local embassies or the government has to intervene. And if such efforts do not succeed, the families have to go back by the next available flight.
"The new immigration rules are too cumbersome and leave scopes for discretion," commented another foreigner.
A number of foreign citizens, who visited Bangladesh earlier, have become victims of the new procedures as they are not aware of the change in immigration rules.
David Preston, high commissioner of Canada, while commenting on the new procedures said, "If Bangladesh really wants to encourage foreign investment, it should simplify the immigration rules. A liberal visa regime should be good for you."
Charge de Affaires of Germany Hermann Nicolai said a lot of prospective investors visit Bangladesh just to explore possibilities while flying to neighbouring countries. So, it is always wise to keep Bangladesh's door open."