Govt to chalk out strategy over US immigrant visa suspension: Rizwana

The government will take necessary diplomatic and policy measures following the decision to suspend the US immigrant visa process for citizens of 75 countries including Bangladesh, said Information Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan on Thursday.

“The decision was announced only on Wednesday (14 Jan) and the government would engage with Washington through the foreign ministry and national security advisers to determine a course of action,” she told reporters responding to a question from journalists at the Secretariat.

When asked whether Bangladesh has failed in any area that led to the decision, Rizwana said the move was not targeted at Bangladesh alone.

“The US government has decided that such restrictions and conditions will be imposed on countries from which large numbers of immigrants go, from which people seek political asylum or from which people become dependent on their social services,” she said.

Earlier on Wednesday, the US State Department, led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, said that consular offices have been instructed to halt immigrant visa processing for nationals of the affected countries under an order tightening scrutiny of applicants who could become “public charges” in the United States.

The move follows broader immigration restrictions introduced by the administration of President Donald Trump and expands earlier travel and visa limitations imposed on nearly 40 countries.

Officials said the decision is aimed at preventing what they described as abuse of the US immigration system.