As India restricts visas for Bangladeshis, many students are unable to go to Delhi to get visas for Europe.
Amid this, on social media, news from Bangladesh has gone viral. While sharing the news, users claim that “Bangladesh Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus held a meeting with diplomats from 27 European Union countries in Dhaka on December 9. He requested them to shift the visa center for Bangladeshis from India to Pakistan.”
Fact Check
During the investigation, DFRAC found the claim to be false. We found multiple media reports regarding the news. According to a report from The Business Standard published on December 9, 2024, “He made the request during a meeting with EU diplomats at his office in Dhaka’s Tejgaon, according to a statement from the Chief Advisor’s press wing. He stated that if the visa offices are moved to Dhaka or a neighboring country, both Bangladesh and the European Union will benefit.”
Furthermore, we also found a report from BBC Bangla published on December 9, 2024 stating , “In a meeting with European Union diplomats, the Chief Advisor requested that the visa center be moved from Delhi to Dhaka or a neighboring country.” Nowhere in reports it has been said that he has requested to move offices particularly to Pakistan.
Conclusion
It is evident from DFRAC’s fact check that the news claiming Bangladesh’s Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus requested the visa center for Bangladeshis to be shifted from India to Pakistan is false. He requested that the visa center be moved from Delhi to Dhaka or a neighboring country. Therefore, the claim made by social media users is misleading.
