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The interim government has directed the concerned department to reinstate the phrase "except Israel" in the passports amid rising demands from the people of the country.
Deputy Secretary Nilima Afroz of the Ministry of Home Affairs confirmed it on Sunday.
The Security Services Division of the home ministry in an office order dated April 7 asked the director general of Department of Immigration and Passport to take necessary actions to restore the phrase. Earlier in May 2021, the government of the autocratic ruler Sheikh Hasina had removed the phrase in the passport claiming to maintain "international standard".
The previous Hasina government, however, claimed that, despite the changes, it would be illegal for Bangladeshi passport holders to make any attempt in visiting Israel.
The phrase-withdrawl decision had made the people unhappy and protest spread over the matter, but the Hasina government refused to change its decision.
The issue regained momentum again after the fall of Hasina in the July uprising.
The recent pro-Palestinian rallies in the country continued to demand reinstating the phrase as Israel continued the genocide at the Gaza strip despite global calls to stop the attacks.
The opposition political parties, including the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), alleged that by removing the phrase in the passport and procuring spyware from Israel, the ousted Hasina-led Awami League indirectly recognised Israel.
Meanwhile, on Saturday, hundreds of thousands of people gathered in Dhaka calling for immediate ceasefire in Gaza and Israel's trial for the genocide.
The reinstatement of "except Israel" was one of the main demands of the "March for Gaza" rally, according to its declaration pronounced by Mahmudur Rahman, the Amar Desh editor, on behalf of the participants.
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