‘Israel Excepted’ Restored in Bangladesh E-Passports, ‘July Uprising 2024’ Added to Watermarks

Bangladesh has officially restored the phrase “Valid for all countries except Israel” in its new electronic passports (e-passports) while introducing “July Uprising 2024” as a new watermark feature.

Under the updated design, symbolic images of three individuals associated with the July 2024 movement—Abu Sayeed of Begum Rokeya University in Rangpur, Mir Mahfuzur Rahman Mugdha of Azampur in Uttara, and Wasim Akram of Chattogram—have been incorporated into the passport watermark.

The changes were announced through an order issued on Sunday (July 19) by the Security Services Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs. The order, signed by Deputy Secretary Mohammad Nuruzzaman, said the existing watermark layout has been redesigned and updated with new elements.

The revised e-passport also includes symbols representing all major religions.

The phrase “This passport is valid for all countries of the world except Israel”, which was removed when Bangladesh introduced e-passports in 2020, has now been reinstated following the latest government decision.

According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, the new government reviewed the e-passport design after assuming office following the 13th National Parliament election. After a series of meetings and approval from the Prime Minister, the revised watermark design was finalized.

The updated watermark features several national landmarks and symbols, including the national flower water lily, the Royal Bengal Tiger, the Oriental Magpie Robin, the National Martyrs’ Memorial, the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, the Supreme Court, Kantajew Temple, Shikha Anirban, Lalbagh Fort, Cox’s Bazar beach, Tanguar Haor, Hilsa fish, Nilgiri, Ahsan Manzil, jackfruit, the Golden Temple, Baitul Mukarram National Mosque, Rajshahi mango orchards, Panam City, Curzon Hall, the Sixty Dome Mosque, jute, tea gardens, the Sundarbans, Holy Rosary Church, and Zainul Abedin’s painting Struggle.

Meanwhile, several previous watermark images have been removed, including the mausoleum of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in Tungipara, the Independence Monument, Model Mosque, Bangabandhu Bridge, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Novotheatre, Bangabandhu Satellite, Padma Bridge, Metro Rail, the boat image at Cox’s Bazar beach, Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, and the Mujibnagar Memorial.

Officials from the Department of Immigration and Passports said the revised design will be introduced gradually in all newly issued 48-page and 64-page e-passports. Existing passport holders will not face any immediate changes and will receive the updated version upon passport renewal after expiry.
//DBITECH/JNO/NN//