Nadir on Visa Rejections and Bangladesh Passport Challenges

Nadir Nibras, a renowned Bangladeshi travel blogger and YouTuber known for his channel Nadir On The Go, revealed that seven out of 17 countries he applied to for visas over the past year rejected his applications. He attributes these rejections primarily to errors by Bangladeshi applicants and the declining global standing of the Bangladeshi passport. On Sunday, 27 July, Nadir shared a detailed video on YouTube and Facebook, elaborating on the issue.

In the video’s caption, Nadir wrote, “Many think I can travel anywhere because I’ve visited many countries and my passport carries some advantages. While this is partly true, I still hold a Bangladeshi passport, which comes with many limitations. Over the past year, I applied for visas to 17 countries, and seven rejected me.”

Nadir explained specific cases in the video. His Bahrain visa was denied due to issues with the e-visa application process, as cited by authorities. He noted that large numbers of Bangladeshis travel illegally to Italy, and some use tourist visas in Cambodia to attempt onward travel to other countries, leading to visa rejections. He said, “Vietnam’s rejection letter made me think they assumed a Bangladeshi couldn’t afford to travel there for 40 days. Later, I heard they’re not accepting anyone from Bangladesh because people enter and don’t leave. In Singapore, many stay illegally. In Tajikistan, Bangladeshis use it as a transit point to Russia, causing rejections.” Additionally, his application to attend a music festival in the Netherlands was rejected.

Addressing the declining value of the Bangladeshi passport, Nadir stated, “The Bangladeshi passport is losing its value because citizens go abroad and stay illegally. There’s a tendency to believe life is better abroad, which isn’t true. Studying abroad is different, but for those without that opportunity, thinking illegal migration is the only way isn’t right. You might end up with a worse life than in Bangladesh. Countries are reluctant to issue visas to Bangladeshis because many, especially in Europe, stay illegally.”

Nadir further noted, “The state of the Bangladeshi passport is not good. Five years ago, I made a video about 48 countries Bangladeshis could visit. That video became outdated almost immediately because visa policies change rapidly. The passport’s situation is worsening, not improving.” He emphasized his perspective as a tourist, saying, “I’m a tourist with no intention of working abroad or migrating. After my last video on this topic, I received negative responses, with people assuming I was involved in human trafficking. They sent messages asking about costs or requesting I take them abroad, even sending passport photos to my inbox. That was my first and last video on this topic due to that bad experience.”

Nadir, born in Dinajpur but now based in Dhaka with his parents and sister, completed his O and A Levels at an English-medium school in Dhaka before moving to the United States in 2010. There, he earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and a master’s in data science and electrical engineering. His passion, however, lies in travel, which he pursued extensively with his family as a child and now continues solo.

The challenges Nadir highlights reflect broader issues faced by Bangladeshi travelers, as visa restrictions tighten globally due to concerns over illegal migration and documentation errors.