Last Updated on January 16, 2026 9:02 pm by INDIAN AWAAZ
Zakir Hossain from Dhaka
Bangladesh has slipped into an image crisis on the global stage over migration issues after the United States suspended immigrant visa processing for Bangladeshi nationals, dealing a major blow to migration prospects.
The decision comes just a week after Washington imposed a visa bond requirement. According to a statement from the US Department of State, immigrant visa processing will be suspended for citizens of 75 countries, including Bangladesh, Russia, China, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nepal, from January 21 until further notice. Under the new policy, US embassies and consulates will assess applications using stricter guidelines. Officials may deny visas if they believe applicants could become dependent on public benefits such as food assistance, housing support or medical services.
The move has dimmed the hopes of at least 1.8 lakh prospective migrants from the affected countries. Human rights organisations have criticised the decision, while several US politicians have objected to what they described as collective punishment.
Moin Chowdhury, director of the American International Bar Association and a Bangladeshi-American attorney active in Democratic Party grassroots organising, strongly criticised the Trump administration’s directive. “People whose labour, talent and sacrifice helped make the United States a global leader now see their dreams shattered. This is an inhumane step,” Chowdhury said, adding that immigrant rights groups could challenge the policy in court.
Officials at Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the government has sought details through its embassy in Washington and will decide its next course of action after receiving official clarification. Speaking to reporters at the Secretariat, Information and Broadcasting Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan said the decision was not aimed solely at Bangladesh. “This is a decision of the US government. We will now assess where Bangladesh stands and what steps we need to take,” she said, adding that Washington had focused on countries with high migration rates, large numbers of asylum seekers or significant reliance on social services.