Bangladeshis travelling to Israel will be punished
Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen yesterday warned that legal action will be taken if any Bangladeshi citizen travels to Israel.
"We don't recognise Israel. Anyone [Bangladeshi] going to Israel has to face punishment," he told reporters after the handover of pharmaceutical products for the people of Palestine to its Ambassador to Bangladesh Yousef SY Ramadan at the state guesthouse Padma.
"If anyone goes there, that person will be liable to prosecution. There have been such instances."
The minister mentioned that the government never allowed anyone to visit Israel. And the immigration officials will stop anyone from traveling to Israel as they did in the past.
There has been confusion recently over whether Bangladeshis can travel to Israel as the words "except Israel" have been dropped from "This passport is valid for all countries of the world except Israel" printed in e-passport.
The minister had earlier clarified that this was done to maintain the international standard of the passport and it does not mean, in anyway, a change in Bangladesh's foreign policy. Bangladesh maintains its travel ban on Israel.
At yesterday's event, Momen said Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was a strong supporter of the Palestinians. Bangladesh, since its independence, has been providing assistance to Palestine and wants a Two-State solution as per the pre-1967 border.
"Bangladesh raised the Palestine issue time and again at the UN General Assembly. We believe one day an independent and sovereign Palestine will be established."
Beacon Pharmaceuticals Ltd Managing Director Mohammad Ebadul Karim handed over medicines worth Tk 40 lakh to the foreign minister. The humanitarian assistance will be sent to the Palestinians, who faced devastation during the 11-day war between Israel and Hamas.
Momen mentioned that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will provide $50,000 as humanitarian assistance to the Palestinians. Besides, different organisations and individuals are extending their help to them.
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