Legal action if anyone tries to visit Israel from Bangladesh: FM

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Wednesday warned of legal action according to the country's immigration law if anyone tries to go to Israel from Bangladesh as it still does not recognise Israel.

"We remain very strong on the legal ground and everybody knows it. Immigration controls these things. They've been doing it for years. Our immigration authority will immediately stop anyone who tries to go against the law," he said while responding to questions from reporters after the handover of donation of pharmaceutical products for the people of Palestine to its Ambassador to Bangladesh Yousef SY Ramadan at state guesthouse Padma. Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen was also present. 

The minister reiterated that Bangladesh has not changed its position towards Israel at all; therefore no one from Bangladesh can visit Israel.

He said the foreign policy of Bangladesh remains the same as it was during Bangabandhu's time. "We don't recognise Israel."

"If anyone goes there, the person will be liable to be prosecuted. There has been evidence before," said the minister, adding that the government never gave permission to anybody to visit Israel.

The Foreign Minister, meanwhile, expressed displeasure over the comments made by the Palestinian Ambassador to Bangladesh Yousef SY Ramadan terming those comments "totally irrelevant".

Earlier on 23 May, the Palestinian Ambassador in Dhaka, Yousef SY Ramadan, said they sincerely hope that Bangladesh will revise this decision and keep this sentence in the passport – "except Israel" - because this also represents a very good support to the people of Palestine. 

The Foreign Minister said there will be more donations as Bangladesh handed over medicine worth Tk40 lakh on Wednesday.

"It (more donations) has been approved. We'll send that soon. There'll be plenty from us as Palestine is our old friend," Dr Momen said.

The Palestinian Ambassador thanked the government of Bangladesh for expressing solidarity and support. "People in Palestine 

Among others, Mohammad Ebadul Karim, MP, managing director of Beacon Pharmaceuticals, Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen were present at the event.