The UAE has cancelled the visas of thousands of Bangladeshis, leaving many expatriates stranded in Bangladesh and unable to return to their jobs, businesses and families in the Gulf country. Bangladesh has taken up the issue with the UAE through diplomatic channels and sought a review of the cancellations.The Daily Star reported that the number of affected Bangladeshis has risen from around 4,000 to 4,800, citing Bangladeshi ministry sources. However, the UAE has not publicly confirmed the figure. Bangladesh’s foreign ministry had said on July 30 that 626 Bangladeshis had faced automatic visa cancellations, while stressing that the cancellations were not specific to Bangladesh and had also affected nationals of other countries.Many affected Bangladeshis had returned home on leave before receiving cancellation notices by email or mobile message. Abul Kalam Azad, who had lived in the UAE for 27 years, told The Daily Star that he returned to Bangladesh on April 7 and received a visa cancellation email on July 24 without any reason being given.The cancellations have affected both workers and business owners. One Bangladeshi told The Daily Star that he had two businesses in the UAE and a wife living in Dubai, but was now unable to return.The UAE is home to around 1.2 million Bangladeshi expatriates, according to Bangladesh’s foreign ministry. Dhaka has been seeking greater mobility and the reopening of labour visas for Bangladeshi nationals.The reasons behind the latest cancellations remain unclear. MS Shekil Chowdhury, chairman of the Centre for Non-Resident Bangladeshi, said UAE authorities had increased scrutiny amid the wider Middle East conflict, including checks related to visa renewals, documentation and social media activity. He stressed that he was not saying these factors directly caused the cancellations.Bangladesh’s expatriates’ welfare ministry has asked recently affected Bangladeshis to submit their details as the government works to establish the scale of the problem. Affected expatriates have also sought financial assistance, rehabilitation and diplomatic intervention to help them return to their previous workplaces.The Bangladesh government has not announced a final number of affected nationals or a confirmed reason for the visa cancellations.
