Saudi Ambassador Urges Expedited Passports for 69,000 Rohingyas in KSA

The request was made during a courtesy meeting with Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed at his Secretariat office on Monday, April 20, 2026.

The high-level meeting covered a broad range of bilateral issues, including law and order, security cooperation, manpower export, and potential Saudi investment in Bangladesh’s energy sector.

Passport Progress and Verification During the discussions, the Home Minister noted that Saudi Arabia remains one of Bangladesh's closest strategic allies. He updated the Ambassador on the status of the passport requests, stating that 22,000 Rohingyas have already been issued Bangladeshi passports upon providing necessary documentation, while the remaining cases are under verification.

To expedite this process, the Home Minister confirmed that a specialized team from Bangladesh has already been dispatched to Saudi Arabia. However, he issued a stern warning against any discrepancies, stating that "no corruption or irregularities will be tolerated" in the passport issuance process.

Directives for Accuracy The Home Minister instructed relevant officials to ensure that those with authentic documentation receive their passports without delay. He also emphasized the importance of cross-referencing information with the comprehensive list provided by Saudi authorities to maintain the integrity of the data.

Bilateral Visits and Strategic Ties Ambassador Abiyah extended a formal invitation to the Home Minister to visit Saudi Arabia to further strengthen bilateral ties. The Minister indicated that he plans to lead a high-level delegation to Riyadh in the first half of July.

Government analysts noted that this cooperation reflects Bangladesh's commitment to maintaining a balanced foreign policy, fostering deep security and defense ties with both brotherly nations like Saudi Arabia and international organizations including NATO-member states.