The official order also approved changes to the design of the e-passport booklet by rearranging existing images and revising its watermarks.
A review of the order shows that the new watermark design includes images commemorating the July 2024 Mass Uprising, featuring martyrs Abu Sayed of Rangpur, Mir Mahfuzur Rahman Mugdha of Uttara, Dhaka, and Wasim Akram of Chattogram. Symbols representing all major religions have also been incorporated into the e-passport.
According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, the e-passport service was launched in 2020 at a cost of Tk4,500 crore during the Awami League government's tenure. At that time, the phrase "Except Israel" was removed from the passport.
Previously, Bangladeshi passports carried the statement that they were valid for travel to all countries of the world except Israel. Since the introduction of the e-passport, various groups had demanded the restoration of the phrase.
After the BNP government assumed office on 17 February 2026 following its victory in the 13th parliamentary election, it initiated a process to revise several elements of the passport.
The home ministry held a series of meetings and submitted a summary to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, who instructed that several new images be included in the e-passport. The revised watermark design was approved through Sunday's official order.
The new e-passports will feature watermarks of the national flower water lily; the Royal Bengal Tiger; the national bird Oriental Magpie-Robin (Doel); the Shaheed Minar; the National Memorial; the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban; the Supreme Court; Kantaji Temple in Dinajpur; Shikha Anirban at Suhrawardy Udyan; Lalbagh Fort; Cox's Bazar sea beach with its casuarina forest (excluding boats); Tanguar Haor in Sunamganj; the national fish hilsa; Nilgiri in Bandarban; Ahsan Manzil in Dhaka; the national fruit jackfruit; the Golden Temple in Bandarban; Baitul Mukarram National Mosque; mango orchards in Rajshahi; Panam City in Sonargaon, Narayanganj; Curzon Hall; the Sixty Dome Mosque; jute, the country's "golden fibre"; tea gardens; the Sundarbans; the Holy Rosary Church; and Zainul Abedin's painting "Struggle".
Images removed
According to ministry sources, multiple images have been removed from the passport watermark. They are – the mausoleum of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in Tungipara, Gopalganj; the Independence Monument at Suhrawardy Udyan; Model Mosque; Bangabandhu Bridge (Jamuna Bridge); Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Novo Theatre; Bangabandhu Satellite; Padma Bridge; Metro Rail; the Cox's Bazar beach with boats; Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant; and the Mujibnagar Memorial in Meherpur.
Officials of the Department of Immigration and Passports said the phrase "Except Israel" will be incorporated into new passports in phases in line with the latest directive.
Existing passport holders will not face any immediate complications. They will receive the updated version when they renew their passports after expiry.
National | 20 Jul 2026
Bangladesh Bangladesh reinstates 'Except Israel' on passports
Bangladesh has reinstated the phrase "Except Israel" on its passports, six years after it was removed during the tenure of the ousted Awami League government.
The Ministry of Home Affairs issued an official order on Sunday directing the Department of Immigration and Passports to take the necessary steps to implement the change.
Officials at the ministry said the phrase will appear on all newly issued passports.
They said the decision aligns with Bangladesh's foreign policy, public sentiment and the country's long-standing position on the Palestinian issue.
The official order also approved changes to the design of the e-passport booklet by rearranging existing images and revising its watermarks.
A review of the order shows that the new watermark design includes images commemorating the July 2024 Mass Uprising, featuring martyrs Abu Sayed of Rangpur, Mir Mahfuzur Rahman Mugdha of Uttara, Dhaka, and Wasim Akram of Chattogram. Symbols representing all major religions have also been incorporated into the e-passport.
According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, the e-passport service was launched in 2020 at a cost of Tk4,500 crore during the Awami League government's tenure. At that time, the phrase "Except Israel" was removed from the passport.
Previously, Bangladeshi passports carried the statement that they were valid for travel to all countries of the world except Israel. Since the introduction of the e-passport, various groups had demanded the restoration of the phrase.
After the BNP government assumed office on 17 February 2026 following its victory in the 13th parliamentary election, it initiated a process to revise several elements of the passport.
The home ministry held a series of meetings and submitted a summary to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, who instructed that several new images be included in the e-passport. The revised watermark design was approved through Sunday's official order.
The new e-passports will feature watermarks of the national flower water lily; the Royal Bengal Tiger; the national bird Oriental Magpie-Robin (Doel); the Shaheed Minar; the National Memorial; the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban; the Supreme Court; Kantaji Temple in Dinajpur; Shikha Anirban at Suhrawardy Udyan; Lalbagh Fort; Cox's Bazar sea beach with its casuarina forest (excluding boats); Tanguar Haor in Sunamganj; the national fish hilsa; Nilgiri in Bandarban; Ahsan Manzil in Dhaka; the national fruit jackfruit; the Golden Temple in Bandarban; Baitul Mukarram National Mosque; mango orchards in Rajshahi; Panam City in Sonargaon, Narayanganj; Curzon Hall; the Sixty Dome Mosque; jute, the country's "golden fibre"; tea gardens; the Sundarbans; the Holy Rosary Church; and Zainul Abedin's painting "Struggle".
Images removed
According to ministry sources, multiple images have been removed from the passport watermark. They are – the mausoleum of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in Tungipara, Gopalganj; the Independence Monument at Suhrawardy Udyan; Model Mosque; Bangabandhu Bridge (Jamuna Bridge); Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Novo Theatre; Bangabandhu Satellite; Padma Bridge; Metro Rail; the Cox's Bazar beach with boats; Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant; and the Mujibnagar Memorial in Meherpur.
Officials of the Department of Immigration and Passports said the phrase "Except Israel" will be incorporated into new passports in phases in line with the latest directive.
Existing passport holders will not face any immediate complications. They will receive the updated version when they renew their passports after expiry.
The official order also approved changes to the design of the e-passport booklet by rearranging existing images and revising its watermarks.
A review of the order shows that the new watermark design includes images commemorating the July 2024 Mass Uprising, featuring martyrs Abu Sayed of Rangpur, Mir Mahfuzur Rahman Mugdha of Uttara, Dhaka, and Wasim Akram of Chattogram. Symbols representing all major religions have also been incorporated into the e-passport.
According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, the e-passport service was launched in 2020 at a cost of Tk4,500 crore during the Awami League government's tenure. At that time, the phrase "Except Israel" was removed from the passport.
Previously, Bangladeshi passports carried the statement that they were valid for travel to all countries of the world except Israel. Since the introduction of the e-passport, various groups had demanded the restoration of the phrase.
After the BNP government assumed office on 17 February 2026 following its victory in the 13th parliamentary election, it initiated a process to revise several elements of the passport.
The home ministry held a series of meetings and submitted a summary to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, who instructed that several new images be included in the e-passport. The revised watermark design was approved through Sunday's official order.
The new e-passports will feature watermarks of the national flower water lily; the Royal Bengal Tiger; the national bird Oriental Magpie-Robin (Doel); the Shaheed Minar; the National Memorial; the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban; the Supreme Court; Kantaji Temple in Dinajpur; Shikha Anirban at Suhrawardy Udyan; Lalbagh Fort; Cox's Bazar sea beach with its casuarina forest (excluding boats); Tanguar Haor in Sunamganj; the national fish hilsa; Nilgiri in Bandarban; Ahsan Manzil in Dhaka; the national fruit jackfruit; the Golden Temple in Bandarban; Baitul Mukarram National Mosque; mango orchards in Rajshahi; Panam City in Sonargaon, Narayanganj; Curzon Hall; the Sixty Dome Mosque; jute, the country's "golden fibre"; tea gardens; the Sundarbans; the Holy Rosary Church; and Zainul Abedin's painting "Struggle".
Images removed
According to ministry sources, multiple images have been removed from the passport watermark. They are – the mausoleum of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in Tungipara, Gopalganj; the Independence Monument at Suhrawardy Udyan; Model Mosque; Bangabandhu Bridge (Jamuna Bridge); Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Novo Theatre; Bangabandhu Satellite; Padma Bridge; Metro Rail; the Cox's Bazar beach with boats; Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant; and the Mujibnagar Memorial in Meherpur.
Officials of the Department of Immigration and Passports said the phrase "Except Israel" will be incorporated into new passports in phases in line with the latest directive.
Existing passport holders will not face any immediate complications. They will receive the updated version when they renew their passports after expiry.