A few days ago, Nadir, the owner of content creator Nadir on the Go’ revealed that his Bangladeshi passport had been rejected by several countries. According to him, countries that once used to issue visas to Bangladeshis are now refusing to do so. In fact, many countries are denying visas to Bangladeshi passport holders under various pretexts—whether for medical purposes, student visas, or even tourist visas. What is the reason behind this?
To find the cause, we first need to understand how passport rankings work. Generally, a country’s passport ranking depends on how many destinations it allows visa-free or visa-on-arrival entry. For example, according to the Henley Passport Index, Singapore offers visa-free access to 193 countries, making it one of the world’s most powerful passports. Many European countries also provide free movement and even student visa flexibility among themselves. These rankings are mainly based on IATA and official government data. Additionally, diplomatic relations, economic conditions, and trade agreements play a crucial role in determining passport strength.
The History of Bangladesh’s Passport: Where We Were, Where We Are Now
Compared to our neighboring countries, Bangladesh’s passport ranking has never been strong. The Bangladeshi passport was first issued after the Liberation War of 1971. At that time, its position was relatively better, but over the years, the ranking has declined. For example, in 2022, it was ranked 104th, and by 2025, it had slightly improved to 94th. While that may seem like progress, it is still considered one of the 10 weakest passports in the world. Why is our passport so weak? There are several main reasons, which we will now explore step by step.
To understand why Bangladesh’s passport ranks so low, we need to look at why Bangladeshis travel abroad. Generally, the reasons are threefold: education, employment, and medical treatment. Tourism is another factor. Ironically, it is for these very reasons that many countries impose stricter visa requirements on Bangladeshis.
Economic Factors: The Impact of Poverty and Unemployment
The biggest reason behind Bangladesh’s weak passport is its economic situation. Countries fear an influx of immigrants. Excessive immigration can increase unemployment and economic inequality among local populations. Bangladesh, as a developing country, has high levels of poverty and unemployment. Developed nations fear that Bangladeshis may enter their countries visa-free and then overstay illegally, seeking jobs and creating instability.
Take Canada, for example—it has already restricted entry for certain groups, including South Asians. Similarly, many European countries make it difficult for South Asian citizens to enter. The U.S. and European nations also impose strict visa rules on Bangladeshis, as they are often perceived as “economic migrants.” This creates a vicious cycle: weak passports make travel difficult, which in turn hinders economic opportunities, which further weakens the passport.
That said, there is hope. Bangladesh’s economy is growing rapidly, with one of the highest GDP growth rates in the world. This growth may eventually help strengthen the passport.
Diplomatic Weakness: Lack of Visa-Waiver Agreements
Another major reason is the lack of diplomatic initiatives. Bangladesh’s diplomatic standing with many countries has not been particularly strong in recent years. Many countries improve their passport power through bilateral agreements, negotiating for visa-free access. Unfortunately, Bangladesh has taken fewer such initiatives. For example, India and Pakistan have secured more bilateral deals, giving their citizens broader travel access.
The Bangladeshi government rarely prioritizes passport-related negotiations. In the past, political instability and corruption have further hindered such efforts. While there has been some recent progress—such as new visa-free destinations being added—the ranking remains weak. Bangladesh is currently ranked 94th, but greater diplomatic effort is still required.
Immigration Issues: Illegal Immigration and Human Trafficking
Illegal immigration and human trafficking have severely damaged Bangladesh’s global reputation. Many Bangladeshis overstay their visas abroad, which makes other countries reluctant to issue visas to them. From their perspective, Bangladeshis are more likely to remain abroad permanently rather than return home.
This problem is especially visible in Europe and the Middle East. Factors such as Bangladesh’s political instability, low living standards, and lack of security drive this trend. Moreover, inefficiency and corruption in Bangladesh’s immigration services—such as delays or bribery in passport issuance—make matters worse.
To address this, the government must tighten immigration control and work with international partners to manage migration flows better.
Global Perceptions and Political Instability
Many developed nations already have negative perceptions of Bangladesh, shaped by anti-immigrant sentiment. Additionally, the methodology of the Henley Index itself may contain biases that disadvantage developing countries. Internal political unrest, such as election disputes and violent conflicts, also damages Bangladesh’s image.
However, there is still potential. Recent economic successes, such as export growth, may eventually help reshape these perceptions.
Is There Any Solution to the Problem?
To solve Bangladesh’s passport issues, the government needs to address several key areas:
- Corruption in Passport Offices
Corruption is one of the most common problems in the passport system. Even with complete documentation, passports are sometimes withheld unless bribes are paid. Outside agents and brokers make the process worse. While police verification issues have somewhat improved, nepotism and favoritism still delay passport delivery. - Political Environment
Bangladesh’s political instability is a major deterrent. Frequent conflicts between political parties create an unsafe global perception of the country, which in turn affects passport strength. - Immigration Problems
Many Bangladeshis do not return once they leave the country. Political unrest, corruption, and insecurity make them unwilling to come back, leading to a rise in undocumented migrants. This damages Bangladesh’s reputation further. To resolve this, the government should pursue bilateral agreements and expand international cooperation.
In the end, even if the government successfully addresses these three issues, Bangladesh’s passport problem can be solved. The real question is: will the government actually be able to do it?
