Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata has announced that it will soon open its first official visa application (VAC) centre in Kolkata. The announcement came to culminate a year of celebrations on the glorious occasion of the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, in tandem with what is also considered the year of digitalization of Bangladesh. Read: Visa Free Country List for Bangladeshi Passport Holders in 2021 State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md. Shahriar Alam said functions related to diplomacy and business are the main objectives of a diplomatic commission. “We are planning to separate visa centres, especially in embassies where there is an increasing rush of service-seekers,” he said. As a part of this plan, the State Minister said they are separating it from the main embassy or high commission. Bangladesh has diplomatic missions in 75 countries around the world. Read:Indian tourist visas to be issued from Oct 12 “That is why the Bangladesh government has set up a separate visa centre in Kolkata,” he said adding that Bangladesh has diplomatic missions in 75 countries around the world.”

The Royal Thai Embassy in Dhaka has announced that it will resume accepting applications for all visa categories and certificate of entry (COE) for non-Thai nationals in Bangladesh from Monday. All travellers will have to fulfil each visa's requirements and eligibility as well as follow the Royal Thai Government's procedures and measures, including mandatory quarantine requirement of 14 days, regardless of vaccination status, said the embassy Sunday. Read: US Embassy starts accepting interview-waiver visa applications Travels to Phuket Sandbox and related initiatives will be subjected to measures specified by relevant authorities.

More than 50 civil society and journalists’ organisations, including ARTICLE 19, have urged the G7 countries to ensure the protection and subsequent evacuation of all media personnel from war-ravaged Afghanistan. The group of leading industrial nations -- Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, the USA and the European Union (EU) -- is preparing to hold an online summit on the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan.  Read: Evacuation flights resume in Kabul after deadly bombings Ahead of this summit, the rights bodies operating at the international level, in a joint letter, have asked the G7 countries to make a clear and explicit commitment to taking journalists as an urgent priority, ensure their protection and evacuate them and their families from Afghanistan. Faruq Faisel, the Regional Director for ARTICLE 19 South Asia, in a separate statement said, “ARTICLE 19 expresses solidarity with Afghan citizens, millions of whom are now living in abject fear." ARTICLE 19 is committed to working with partners to support journalists and media workers, human rights defenders and women’s rights activists, academics, writers, artists and educators, all of whom are at serious and immediate risk of targeted violence at the hands of the Taliban. “G7 members must increase their current support for those journalists and media workers at risk... and pay particular attention to the situation of women with immediate priority. Read: What's happening with Afghanistan evacuations? "G7 governments must ease visa restrictions for these people and their families seeking asylum as well as simplify and secure the process for visa application, and collaborate with third countries when possible," Faisel said. ARTICLE 19 also urged the international community to ensure the continuation of the negotiations for a government based on the participation of all parties in Afghanistan and hold the Taliban accountable to its responsibilities to respect international human rights law.

The Chinese Embassy in Dhaka on Sunday said its visa office remains open, and Bangladeshi nationals with special and urgent needs for traveling can still come for visa application.