22,000 Rohingya granted Bangladeshi passports in Saudi Arabia

The announcement came during a meeting at the Secretariat with Saudi Ambassador to Bangladesh, Abdullah Jafar bin Abiyah, where both sides discussed law and order, security cooperation, and the status of approximately 69,000 Rohingya residing in Saudi Arabia.

According to the minister, passports have been granted to 22,000 Rohingya so far based on proper documentation and verification. He added that a special team has been deployed from Bangladesh to expedite the process.

Officials said the initiative is part of broader efforts to regularize the status of Rohingya migrants in Saudi Arabia, many of whom are originally from Myanmar but possess Bangladeshi documents.

During the meeting, the Saudi envoy emphasized the need to accelerate the passport issuance process, while Dhaka stressed strict compliance with legal requirements. The minister instructed authorities to conduct further verification using a complete list provided by Saudi Arabia to ensure transparency.

The two sides also discussed expanding cooperation in the energy and tourism sectors, with Bangladesh highlighting opportunities for increased Saudi investment.

The ambassador invited the home minister to visit Saudi Arabia with a high-level delegation to strengthen bilateral ties. The minister said he is likely to undertake the visit in early July.