DHAKA: Bangladesh will begin issuing new passports carrying the phrase “This passport is valid for all countries of the world except Israel” from October 2026, following a government decision to restore the wording that had been removed from the country’s travel documents in 2021.
The Ministry of Home Affairs announced that printing of the revised passports will begin later this month after the government formally approved the reinstatement of the clause.
Clause Removed in 2021
Until 2021, Bangladeshi passports prominently carried the statement declaring that the document was valid for travel to all countries except Israel.
The wording was removed when the previous government led by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina introduced a redesigned passport. The change was implemented without any formal public announcement, although Bangladesh continued to maintain its longstanding policy of having no diplomatic relations with Israel.
New Government Restores Previous Policy
According to Dr. Ziauddin Ahmed, Additional Secretary at Bangladesh’s Ministry of Home Affairs, the government issued the official order on Sunday authorizing the return of the clause.
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“We have officially instructed that the new Bangladeshi passports will once again include the phrase: ‘This passport is valid for all countries of the world, except Israel.’ Printing will begin this month, and we expect citizens to start receiving the new passports from October,” he said.
The decision follows the formation of the new government led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, who assumed office in late February 2026.
Government Cites Solidarity with Palestine
Officials said the move reflects Bangladesh’s political position and its continued support for the Palestinian people.
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The Home Ministry stated that restoring the clause demonstrates the government’s commitment to its foreign policy principles while expressing solidarity with Palestine amid the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Authorities added that the decision also reflects public sentiment within Bangladesh, where calls to restore the wording intensified following the outbreak of the Gaza conflict in October 2023.
Background
Bangladesh does not maintain diplomatic relations with Israel, and Bangladeshi passport holders are generally not permitted to travel to Israel under existing government policy.
Public pressure to restore the passport clause increased after the change in government in 2024, when the previous administration was replaced following nationwide political unrest. The newly elected government has now formally implemented the policy through an official administrative order.
The revised passport design is expected to become available to Bangladeshi citizens beginning in October 2026, while existing passport issuance procedures will continue during the transition period.
