Confusion prevails over visa denial to Bengal Minister by Dhaka

Confusion reigned over visa denial by Bangladesh government to a Minister in West Bengal government. While West Bengal minister and influential Muslim leader Siddiqullah Chowdhury claimed that Bangladesh government has denied him and his family visa to travel to Dhaka, Bangladesh home ministry sources told ET from Dhaka that no visa was denied and the Ministry is not aware of any such claim.

Another source, however, indicated that the visa may have been denied on 'technical' grounds. Sources told ET that Bangladesh government is cautious with any cleric who wants to propagate conservative views and had earlier denied visa to Zakir Naik.

According to Siddiqullah Chowdhury, despite following due procedure for visa application, he was denied visa by Bangladeshi authorities. However, no reason has been cited for the denial, claims the minister. Siddiqullah Chowdhury was scheduled to travel to Bangladesh on December 26. "I have got a NoC from the Ministry of Home Affairs for my tour. Even the chief minister is aware of it. But now I have to cancel it at the last moment," the minister told media.


Siddiqullah Chowdhury was scheduled to attend the centenary celebrations of a madrassa in Bangladesh's Sylhet apart from attending to some personal commitments. He was scheduled to return on December 31. The Jamiat-E-Ulama Hind Bengal unit has termed the development as extremely unfortunate and unprecedented.