The government is planning to sign a "visa-on-arrival" agreement with China for Bangladeshi businessmen and diplomats and officials of both countries, with a view to strengthening relations between the two friendly nations, according to sources in the ministries of home and foreign affairs. The home ministry, in cooperation with the foreign affairs and other ministries, has finalised a draft of the agreement, titled "Agreement on Mutual Exemption of Prior Entry Visa for Holders of Businessmen, Diplomatic and Official Passports", the sources added.
The agreement is likely to be signed during the three-day state visit of the Chinese president, Xi Jinping, to Bangladesh beginning on October 10. Senior secretary of the home ministry, Dr Mozammel Haque Khan, told The Independent that they are trying to finalise the draft agreement in cooperation with the Chinese authorities concerned and the foreign ministry. “In addition to government officials and diplomats, we are trying to include our businessmen to help improve communication between businessmen of the two countries,” he said.
He added that special passport holders of China will get the facility after the agreement is signed. The senior secretary also said they are planning to sign similar agreements with 18 other countries as well. Sources said it will be an achievement for the government to sign a visa-on-arrival agreement with China. Relations between the two countries would be strengthened by the agreement, they added. The draft agreement says: “Nationals of both parties who are holders of special passports in China and businessmen of Bangladesh may enter into the territory of the other party, without a visa and fees for a period of time continuous or several stays not exceeding 90 days, in six months from the first date of entry.”
It further states: “The holders of businessmen, diplomatic and official passports, who are accredited in the territory of the other party, as well as their spouses and underage children who accompany them and live with them, may enter the territory of the other party, without a visa for a period of employment, provided that notice is given to the other party thirty days before arrival.” The draft agreement says: “Nationals of both parties, who are holders of passports, may extend the duration of their stay, after expiration of the period mentioned, after the approval of the competent authorities in the other party to extend the duration of their stay, in accordance with legal provisions in force in the country of the other party.” Sources said the government is in communication with several countries, including Afghanistan, Pakistan, Peru, Brazil, Burkina Faso, South Africa, Azerbaijan, Serbia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Albania, Kazakhstan, Nigeria, the UAE, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Colombia, Bahrain, Iraq and Japan, to sign agreements to get on-arrival visas. The Bangladesh government has already signed agreements with 27 countries to get on-arrival visas.