Online Desk  :  The government has decided to adopt stricter visa policies for visitors from several countries, including Syria and Lebanon, ahead of the upcoming Biswa Ijtema.  Guests from countries Syria, Yemen, Nigeria, Iraq, Somalia, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Sudan, Libya, Chad, Mali, Tunisia, Palestine, and Israel would face close scrutiny. The Tabligh Jamaat Shura has been advised to discourage inviting guests from countries where extremist religious groups are known to engage in destructive activities.To prevent unforeseen incidents, the Ministry of Home Affairs has instructed authorities to verify documents thoroughly before issuing visas to applicants from specific nations.

This decision was made during a recent meeting at the Public Security Division of the Home Ministry, presided over by Home Affairs Adviser Lieutenant General (Retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury on November 4.  According to meeting minutes, countries under close scrutiny include Syria, Yemen, Nigeria, Iraq, Somalia, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Sudan, Libya, Chad, Mali, Tunisia, Palestine, and Israel. The Shura of Tabligh Jamaat Bangladesh must submit detailed lists of foreign guests—including their names, passport numbers, nationalities, dates of birth, and passport issue and expiry dates—by December 20 to the Special Branch (SB).

Visa duration guidelines : Standard Visas: Visas for up to 30 days will be issued for foreign participants. Extended Visas: Based on Tablighi Jamaat’s recommendation, 50-day visas (for one chilla) and 130-day visas (for three chillas) may be granted.

Document verification : All invitation letters from Shura-e-Nizam or Tablighi Jamaat Bangladesh and recommendations from the Markaz of the applicant’s home country must be verified before visas are issued.

Myanmar applicants : Extra caution will be exercised in processing TI (Tablighi Ijtema) visas for Myanmar nationals.

Discouraging high-risk guests : The Tablighi Jamaat Shura has been asked to discourage visitors from nations associated with extremist activities.

On-arrival visa policies : A committee led by the Additional Secretary (Security and Immigration) of the Security Services Division has been formed to oversee: on-arrival visa issuance, visa validity, visa waivers for specific cases, and visa arrangements for citizens from countries without diplomatic relations with Bangladesh.

Circular to missions abroad : On December 3, the Security Services Division issued a letter to all Bangladeshi missions abroad, emphasising the need for strict verification before granting visas to applicants from the listed countries.

Ijtema Schedule : First Phase: Followers of Maulana Mohammad Zubair (Shura-e-Nizam) will host the Ijtema from January 31 to February 2. Second Phase: Followers of Maulana Saad will organize the event from February 7 to 9.

Both phases will take place along the banks of the Turag River in Tongi, Gazipur. Biswa Ijtema, one of the largest Islamic gatherings globally, attracts devotees from around the world. However, ensuring the safety and security of participants remains a priority amid global concerns over extremism.