EU Ambassador to Bangladesh Michael Miller met Home Affairs Adviser Lieutenant General Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury (Retd.) at his office at Bangladesh Secretariate today. Photo: PID

DHAKA, April 21, 2025 (BSS) - Home Affairs Adviser Lieutenant General Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury (Retd.) has requested the European Union (EU) to open a visa centre of its member countries in Dhaka.   
 
“Open a visa center in Dhaka for the member states of the European Union, whose visas are not issued from Dhaka,” he said when EU Ambassador to Bangladesh Michael Miller met him at his Home Ministry office at Bangladesh Secretariat here this afternoon.
 
The meeting discussed a wide range of issues that include the law and order situation in the country, the Rohingya issue, migration, prevention of human trafficking and smuggling and the ongoing reform process in Bangladesh, said a press release of the Home Ministry.
 
“It is time-consuming, difficult and expensive to obtain a visa for EU countries by going to the Indian capital, New Delhi. Therefore, it is essential to open a visa center in Dhaka for EU countries,” Jahangir said.  

In response, the EU ambassador said that this issue will be discussed with the relevant representatives of the EU countries.
 
Mentioning that Bangladesh is one of the leading manpower exporter countries in the EU nations, the Home Adviser said, “A large number of Bangladeshi people regularly travel to European Union countries for various purposes including business, trade, education, health, tourism, and medical treatment.”
 
Bangladesh is small in size but is one of the top ten countries in the world in terms of population, he said.
 
Welcoming the EU Ambassador, the Home Adviser said that the European Union is one of the largest development partners and close associates of Bangladesh.
 
“Since its establishment, the EU has been making significant contributions to the development of trade, commerce and infrastructure in Bangladesh.” he said.
 
Noting that the EU supports the ongoing reform process in Bangladesh, the Ambassador said that if Bangladesh wants, the EU can assist Bangladesh in the process by providing the necessary skills, capabilities, training and experience.
 
Since there is a shortage of skilled and experienced manpower in this regard in Bangladesh, the Adviser requested that training workshops be organized in EU countries for the concerned.
 
About reforms, Jahangir said that reform is an ongoing process.
 
The Home Adviser apprised the EU ambassador of the law and order situation of Bangladesh, saying, “The law and order situation in the country is satisfactory.”  
 
The EU ambassador has expressed his desires in extending wholehearted support in enhancing security capacity and economic development.
 
About Rohingya refugees, Jahangir said that officially there are 1.2 million Rohingyas in Bangladesh.
 
But in reality, more refugees are living in Cox's Bazar, which is a threat to the law and order situation in the region, he said.
 
The Home Adviser went on saying that different law enforcement agencies have been working in coordination with each other to control the law and order and increase security there.
 
“In addition, various domestic and foreign organizations are also working to improve the overall quality of life of the Rohingyas,” he said.
 
Stating that the EU wants to work closely with Bangladesh to prevent human trafficking and smuggling, the ambassador said, every year a large number of Bangladeshis from Bangladesh and the Middle East cross the Mediterranean Sea via Libya to migrate to Europe.
 
Many are financially affected and many lose their lives after falling into the clutches of brokers and human trafficking rings, he said.
 
He continued a tripartite dialogue could be organized between Bangladesh, Libya and the EU to prevent illegal migration and human trafficking and a memorandum of understanding could be signed later in this regard.
 
The Home Adviser requested the EU to provide leadership and take necessary initiatives in this regard.
 
“Bangladesh will provide overall cooperation in this regard,” Jahangir said.
 
Additional Secretary (Political and ICT) Khandaker Md. Mahabubur Rahman of the Public Security Division, Joint Secretary of the Political-1 Branch Md. Jasim Uddin Khan, Counselor of the EU Delegation in Dhaka Jurate SMALSKYTE MERVILLE, First Secretary (Political) Sebastisn Riger-Brown and other concerned officials were present.