'Except Israel' inscription back on Bangladesh passports

DHAKA: After nearly four years, Bangladesh has reintroduced "except Israel" inscription on passports, debarring its citizens from travelling to the Jewish state as public anger mounts against Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip.

The director general of the department of immigration and passports has been asked to take necessary steps to implement the change. Earlier this month, the home ministry issued a notification regarding the change.

Bangladeshi passports used to have "this passport is valid for all countries of the world except Israel" inscribed on them. The phrase was dropped in 2021. The then Awami League govt had said it was to maintain international standards of the document, though Bangladesh's position regarding Israel remained unchanged.

The disclosure came a day after thousands of protesters rallied in capital Dhaka to condemn Israeli actions in the Gaza Strip,carrying hundreds of Palestinian flags and chanting slogans like "Free, Free Palestine".