Zakir Hossain from Dhaka
Newly issued Bangladeshi passports will again carry the phrase “Except Israel”, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said on Sunday, describing the move as a reflection of government policy and public sentiment.
Salahuddin Ahmed made the remarks while responding to questions from journalists at a dialogue organised by the Bangladesh Secretariat Reporters Forum at the Secretariat’s media centre.
The minister said the design of passports and visa pages would also be revised to better reflect Bangladesh’s heritage, culture and people.
“In the past, there was a person-centric presentation there, which does not represent the country’s culture and people,” Salahuddin Ahmed said.
According to him, the new design will highlight Bangladesh’s heritage, culture and tourist attractions. He cited the National Martyrs’ Memorial, Tanguar Haor and Cox’s Bazar beach as possible examples.
Salahuddin Ahmed also said discussions were underway on including images of the Bir Shreshthas on currency notes in the future. He noted that the matter falls under the Ministry of Finance but remains under consideration.
The minister said there would be no political perspective in redesigned passports and similar state presentations. “We want to come out of the trend of politicising everything,” he said, adding that the focus would be on representing Bangladesh’s history, culture and people.