Immigration to top UK minister's trip agenda

The process of British immigration operations conducted in Bangladesh are expected to receive special attention during the forthcoming visit of Keith Vaz MP, and United Kingdom's minister for Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO).

Keith Vaz arrives in Dhaka on Sunday on a two-day official visit to Bangladesh.

Diplomatic sources said the main purpose of Keith Vaz's visit here will be to see personally the British immigration services conducted in Bangladesh and look into ways and means to improve the services for people seeking visas or migration to Britain. Bangladesh has a sizeable number of immigrants in UK and every year thousands also apply for immigrant status or 'visit' visas. Vaz's visit is also a follow-up of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's trip to UK last year during the Bangladesh festival.

A major portion of Vaz's itinerary would comprise his visit to Sylhet and acquainting himself with the problems of visa-seekers.

Vaz will also look into the prospects of opening of a British Visa office in Sylhet, which place has the distinction of sending the largest number of immigrants from a single district in Bangladesh.

The present UK government is credited with making improvements in its immigration procedures worldwide and its plans to simplify the processes further to ease the problem of entrants and immigrants to Britain. An 'appeals process', that was discontinued, is also expected to be re-introduced.

The UK government has already improved visa operations in Bangladesh by simplifying procedures for the applicants.

The British State Minister's second day of stay in Bangladesh would be highlighted by programmes and events in Sylhet.

He will be handing over British passports to some successful visa applicants at Bangladesh Overseas Centre at Zindabazar in Sylhet.

Vaz will be given a civic reception, organised by the Sylhet Municipality at its office premises.

He will visit Newham Bengali Community Trust Office at Bari mansion in East Subidbazar, Sylhet.

The British minister during his stay will address two news conferences, the first one in Sylhet at and the other prior to his departure at the residence of the British High Commissioner to Dhaka.

Vaz would be received at the airport by the State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Abul Hasan Chowdhury.

During his stay in Bangladesh, he will call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, senior ministers and political leaders. He will have discussions on bilateral matters with Bangladesh leaders during his stay in the country.

Keith Vaz, a member of parliament for Leicester east since 1987, will be in Bangladesh as part of his sub-continental tour which will also take him to several Indian cities, including Delhi. Vaz is responsible for entry clearance matters worldwide and was appointed Minister for Europe at the FCO.

Vaz had earlier paid a trip to Bangladesh as an opposition MP.