Bangladesh to Speed Up Passport Process for Rohingya Living in Saudi Arabia

by Hafizur Rahman

Bangladesh authorities have announced plans to speed up the issuance of passports for around 69,000 Rohingya living in Saudi Arabia, a move officials say is intended to reduce long delays and help address documentation problems faced by the community.

The announcement was made during a meeting at the Ministry of Home Affairs in Dhaka between Bangladesh’s Home Affairs Adviser Mohammad Jahangir Alam Chowdhury and the Saudi Ambassador to Bangladesh, Dr. Abdullah Jafar bin Abiya, according to official statements.

Talks on passport processing

Bangladeshi officials said the meeting focused on improving coordination between Bangladesh authorities and Saudi officials to resolve ongoing passport related issues affecting Rohingya residents in Saudi Arabia.

According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, Bangladeshi embassies in Saudi Arabia are working with the Immigration and Passport Department to accelerate the process. Special teams from the ministry have also been deployed to assist with registration, application processing, and document verification.

Officials said these teams are working directly with applicants to help clear backlogs and complete procedures more efficiently.

Challenges remain

Despite these efforts, officials acknowledged that fewer Rohingya applicants than expected are coming to registration centers, which has slowed progress. The reasons for the low turnout were not explained in detail.

Bangladesh authorities said the challenges have been communicated to Saudi counterparts, and both sides are continuing discussions to complete the passport process as quickly as possible.

Wider discussions

The meeting also covered broader bilateral issues, including labor migration, trade, and security cooperation between Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia.

In addition, Bangladesh’s upcoming national election was mentioned during the discussion. The Home Affairs Adviser said security forces are prepared to maintain law and order during the election period, according to the official statement.

For many Rohingya living in Saudi Arabia, access to valid documents remains a critical concern, affecting their legal status, employment, and freedom of movement. Community members say they are watching closely to see whether the announced measures lead to faster and more transparent outcomes.