UNB, Dhaka :
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Tuesday said no directive was given to stop issuing visas to Pakistanis mentioning that Pakistan is yet to grant visa to Bangladesh Counsellor (Consular) to resume his work in Bangladesh’s Islamabad mission.
“No directive was given to stop issuing visas to Pakistanis. But, some particular persons may not get visas,” he told reporters at his office.
The Foreign Minister said if the Counsellor (Consular) does not get visa and cannot go to
Pakistan how visas will be processed. “I don’t know the reasons. I hope, they’ll settle the pending (visa) matters.”
Dr Momen said this is not a big issue and certainly there is no scope to see any strain in relations between Dhaka and Islamabad. “We want friendly relations with all. We hope, the problems will be resolved.”
The minister said they need to look at it how to fix the “sudden gap” that has emerged, and shared that some Bangladesh officers are not given visas.
Pakistan kept visa extension application submitted by Bangladesh diplomat Muhammad Iqbal Hossain, Counsellor (Press) at Bangladesh High Commission in Islamabad, pending for over four months.
“As a sign of protest, he (Iqbal) stopped issuing visas to Pakistanis for the last one week,” the diplomat told UNB on Monday, adding that it is not the kind of closure through any official announcement.
Iqbal submitted the application to Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in January 9 last which was sent to its Ministry of Interior two days later but there has been no positive response so far, the official added.
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Tuesday said no directive was given to stop issuing visas to Pakistanis mentioning that Pakistan is yet to grant visa to Bangladesh Counsellor (Consular) to resume his work in Bangladesh’s Islamabad mission.
“No directive was given to stop issuing visas to Pakistanis. But, some particular persons may not get visas,” he told reporters at his office.
The Foreign Minister said if the Counsellor (Consular) does not get visa and cannot go to
Pakistan how visas will be processed. “I don’t know the reasons. I hope, they’ll settle the pending (visa) matters.”
Dr Momen said this is not a big issue and certainly there is no scope to see any strain in relations between Dhaka and Islamabad. “We want friendly relations with all. We hope, the problems will be resolved.”
The minister said they need to look at it how to fix the “sudden gap” that has emerged, and shared that some Bangladesh officers are not given visas.
Pakistan kept visa extension application submitted by Bangladesh diplomat Muhammad Iqbal Hossain, Counsellor (Press) at Bangladesh High Commission in Islamabad, pending for over four months.
“As a sign of protest, he (Iqbal) stopped issuing visas to Pakistanis for the last one week,” the diplomat told UNB on Monday, adding that it is not the kind of closure through any official announcement.
Iqbal submitted the application to Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in January 9 last which was sent to its Ministry of Interior two days later but there has been no positive response so far, the official added.
