Bangladesh and the United Arab Emirates are working to reset and strengthen their bilateral relationship, focusing on trade, investment, and resolving long-standing migration and visa challenges, according to Lutfey Siddiqi, Special Envoy for International Affairs to the Chief Adviser of Bangladesh, reports UNB.
Following a high-level meeting in Abu Dhabi with Major General Suhail Saeed Al Khaili, Director-General of the UAE's Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security (ICP), Siddiqi stated that both governments are committed to building goodwill and trust as they move toward a "comprehensive refresh" of relations.
Siddiqi, accompanied by Bangladesh's Ambassador and other embassy officials, acknowledged that Bangladeshi nationals have, for over a decade, represented the largest share of visa and residency rule violators in the UAE. According to ICP data, over 25% of such violations involve Bangladeshis.
"The root causes likely stem from recruitment practices in Bangladesh, where high migration costs often do not match the salaries received abroad," Siddiqi said in a statement on his verified Facebook page. He noted that these structural issues create a "vicious cycle" that drives irregular behavior and erodes trust.
Siddiqi also criticized previous Bangladeshi governments for what he called a “non-serious” approach to tackling the causes of criminal conduct abroad. He cited failures to respond effectively to visa amnesty offers and a recurring issue of forged documents—some even bearing official attestation—as major concerns voiced by Emirati authorities.
Adding weight to these concerns, Siddiqi said a UAE-based recruitment firm confirmed that Bangladeshi workers are frequently associated with documentation fraud and other irregularities, especially since the partial reopening of visa categories in March this year.
The envoy said efforts are underway to categorize and isolate specific visa types—such as family reunification, inter-employer transfers, tourist and work permits, and seafarer visas—to enable more tailored and transparent policies.
“In the meantime, all of us have to do better in clamping down on irregularities, including their root causes. They cast a long shadow,” Siddiqi emphasized, noting that meaningful change must begin at home with stricter enforcement and recruitment reform.
The UAE remains a critical labor and trade partner for Bangladesh, and both countries are expected to continue dialogue aimed at preserving economic ties while safeguarding legal migration frameworks.
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
