Bangladesh’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Shama Obaed Islam, has said that the recent automatic cancellation of visas in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is not limited to Bangladeshi nationals, but has also affected citizens of several other countries, including Pakistan, Egypt, the Philippines, and Nepal.

Speaking to reporters after an inter-ministerial meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday, Shama Obaed clarified that reports claiming around 5,000 Bangladeshis had been affected were inaccurate. “According to information received from our missions in the UAE and the Emirati authorities, the actual number of affected Bangladeshi nationals stands at 626 as of today’s meeting,” she said.

State Minister for Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Nurul Haque Nur was also present at the briefing.

The Foreign Affairs State Minister said detailed information on 417 affected workers has already been collected and submitted to the relevant UAE authorities for visa renewal processing, while information on the remaining individuals will be forwarded in phases.

She added that Bangladesh’s diplomatic missions in Abu Dhabi and Dubai are in regular contact with UAE authorities, with further meetings scheduled for next week. “We are optimistic about achieving a positive outcome,” she said.

Shama urged Bangladeshi expatriate workers to strictly comply with the laws and regulations of their host countries, noting that many migrant workers invest their life savings—and in some cases even sell land—to secure overseas employment. “Violating local laws, including through social media activities, may expose workers to legal complications. We urge everyone to refrain from any activities that contravene the laws of the host country,” she said.

The government is also communicating with employers of the affected workers to determine whether the visa cancellations were linked to employment termination or decisions made by recruiting companies. If employer-related issues are identified, Bangladeshi missions will engage directly with the companies to seek possible solutions.

The minister said the government is seriously reviewing the misuse of forged documents, describing it as a threat not only to individual workers but also to Bangladesh’s overseas employment sector.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment are jointly addressing the issue, she said, adding that the government may amend the Overseas Employment and Migrants Act, 2013, in consultation with the Ministry of Law, to introduce stricter penalties for the use of fraudulent documents.

Shama also revealed that the Prime Minister has discussed the issue with both ministries and spoken directly with Bangladesh’s Ambassador to the UAE to assess the situation.

“The Prime Minister has instructed us to take all necessary remedial measures,” she said.

She called on media organizations to verify information carefully before publishing reports on sensitive migration-related matters.

The inter-ministerial meeting also reviewed broader migration issues, including high overseas recruitment costs, visa-related challenges, and the activities of dishonest recruiting agencies and human traffickers. The government is working to reduce migration expenses and strengthen protections against fraudulent recruitment practices.

Regarding Bangladeshis detained abroad, the minister said authorities have identified 27 Bangladeshi nationals who have completed their prison sentences in Myanmar and are working to facilitate their repatriation. Although coordination with the Arakan Army remains complicated, the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and other relevant agencies are actively engaged in the process.

She also noted that the government recently succeeded in repatriating several Bangladeshi nationals detained in Chennai, India.

To strengthen efforts against illegal migration and human trafficking, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has established a dedicated Migration Wing. The government has intensified measures to combat irregular migration to countries including Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia, while district administrations have been instructed to raise public awareness at the grassroots level.

Authorities have also directed immigration officials to conduct stricter verification of travelers, particularly those attempting to travel on tourist visas with the intention of seeking employment abroad.

The government is expected to publish comprehensive guidelines soon outlining the responsibilities and obligations of applicants for work visas and other categories of overseas travel.