15 Sep 2016, 14:29:21
Sri Lanka stops on-arrival visa facilities for Bangladeshis
Sri Lanka has stopped issuing on-arrival visa for Bangladeshis, drawing a tit-for-tat response from Dhaka.
“They did not inform us officially when they stopped it. We came to know on Saturday only when our passengers got stuck at Colombo airport,” a foreign ministry official, who cannot be quoted, said.
Abdullah-al-Mamun, Officer-in-Charge of the immigration police at Shahjalal International Airport, said, when asked on Wednesday, Bangladesh has retaliated and is not issuing on-arrival visas for Sri Lankans.
“Sri Lanka did it first, and then our authorities took the decision,” he said. “I have no idea why they did it though”.
A foreign ministry official said they had summoned High Commissioner Yasoja Gunasekera during the Eid-ul-Azha holiday on Sunday, but she could not give a clear reason for the ‘surprise’ move. The high commissioner has taken time to clarify the decision.
The Sri Lankan High Commission in Dhaka, which is closed on account of Eid holidays, could not be reached for comments.
Sri Lanka’s flag carrier ‘Mihin Lanka’, however, has carried passengers even after the decision.
Family members of the celebrated painter Zainul Abedin were stuck at the Colombo airport.
His son Mainul Abedin said that his daughter, son-in-law, and grandson were stuck for a night at the airport.
“It was a huge harassment. They travelled with Mihin Lanka on Saturday, but on arrival, (airport officials) refused to give them entry clearance. Then our high commission intervened,” he said.
Another family was caught in the confusion with them even after travelling on a ‘Mihin Lanka’ package, he said.
Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, both members of SAARC, established diplomatic ties in 1972.They are also members of the BIMSTEC, IORA, and the Asia Cooperation Dialogue.
The two countries have signed many bilateral agreements on trade, economic and technical cooperation, shipping, and culture.
Official estimates suggest 10,000 Sri Lankan technicians and professionals are employed in garment, freight forwarding, banking, medicine, ICT manufacturing, logistics and health sectors in Bangladesh.
Bangladesh supports Sri Lanka on international forums such as the United Nations. Dhaka sent succour during the recent devastated flood in the island nation.
Dhaka also provides the Sri Lankan defence staff with military training, according to bdnews24.com.
Sri Lanka stops on-arrival visa facilities for Bangladeshis
Sri Lanka has stopped issuing on-arrival visa for Bangladeshis, drawing a tit-for-tat response from Dhaka.
“They did not inform us officially when they stopped it. We came to know on Saturday only when our passengers got stuck at Colombo airport,” a foreign ministry official, who cannot be quoted, said.
Abdullah-al-Mamun, Officer-in-Charge of the immigration police at Shahjalal International Airport, said, when asked on Wednesday, Bangladesh has retaliated and is not issuing on-arrival visas for Sri Lankans.
“Sri Lanka did it first, and then our authorities took the decision,” he said. “I have no idea why they did it though”.
A foreign ministry official said they had summoned High Commissioner Yasoja Gunasekera during the Eid-ul-Azha holiday on Sunday, but she could not give a clear reason for the ‘surprise’ move. The high commissioner has taken time to clarify the decision.
The Sri Lankan High Commission in Dhaka, which is closed on account of Eid holidays, could not be reached for comments.
Sri Lanka’s flag carrier ‘Mihin Lanka’, however, has carried passengers even after the decision.
Family members of the celebrated painter Zainul Abedin were stuck at the Colombo airport.
His son Mainul Abedin said that his daughter, son-in-law, and grandson were stuck for a night at the airport.
“It was a huge harassment. They travelled with Mihin Lanka on Saturday, but on arrival, (airport officials) refused to give them entry clearance. Then our high commission intervened,” he said.
Another family was caught in the confusion with them even after travelling on a ‘Mihin Lanka’ package, he said.
Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, both members of SAARC, established diplomatic ties in 1972.They are also members of the BIMSTEC, IORA, and the Asia Cooperation Dialogue.
The two countries have signed many bilateral agreements on trade, economic and technical cooperation, shipping, and culture.
Official estimates suggest 10,000 Sri Lankan technicians and professionals are employed in garment, freight forwarding, banking, medicine, ICT manufacturing, logistics and health sectors in Bangladesh.
Bangladesh supports Sri Lanka on international forums such as the United Nations. Dhaka sent succour during the recent devastated flood in the island nation.
Dhaka also provides the Sri Lankan defence staff with military training, according to bdnews24.com.
