Foreigners with handwritten visas stranded at Benapole

Over 100 citizens of different countries, including India, faced problems at Banepole check-post on Wednesday as Bangladesh immigration did not allow them to enter the country with handwritten visas.   

The immigration police refrained from allowing the foreign nationals to enter Bangladesh with handwritten visas from Wednesday morning after the Special Branch of police issued a directive in this regard, sources at the Benapole check-post said.

The foreign nationals, mostly Indians, faced troubles at Banepole check-post while entering Bangladesh due to the ban.              

Mithun Chakrabarty, a resident of Uttar 24 Parganas district of India, said he reached Benapole port early Wednesday to visit Bangladesh but he could not enter the country due to visa-related problems.

They said Indian customs and immigration did not impose any ban on handwritten visas but the Bangladesh authority did not give the entry permission.

Officer-in-charge of Benapole check-post immigration Iqbal Ahmed said no handwritten visa issued in January will be allowed for entering Bangladesh.

He, however, said those who collected visas in 2016 can enter Bangladesh and the Biswa Ijtema devotees were being allowed to enter the country with handwritten visas.

Iqbal Ahmed said Bangladesh had earlier informed the Indian immigration police to send Indian nationals to Bangladesh with digital sticker visas from January 2017.