Bangladesh: Information on whether a Bihari born in Dhaka in 1963 is eligible to receive a Bangladeshi passport, and on whether this Bihari is considered stateless by the authorities
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 September 1997 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | BGD27922.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Bangladesh: Information on whether a Bihari born in Dhaka in 1963 is eligible to receive a Bangladeshi passport, and on whether this Bihari is considered stateless by the authorities, 1 September 1997, BGD27922.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6abc860.html [accessed 18 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
For information on the citizenship rights of Biharis in Bangladesh and on whether the Bangladeshi authorities consider Biharis to be stateless, please consult the attached 24 September 1997 fax received from the High Commission for the People's Republic of Bangladesh in Ottawa.
For additional information on Biharis and citizenship, please consult Responses to Information Requests BGD26454.E of 24 March 1997 and PAK23487.E of 2 April 1996, which are available at Regional Documentation Centres.
The following information deals generally with the situation of Biharis in Bangladesh.
According to Steinar Askvik's 1995 article on Bangladesh in Human Rights in Developing Countries Yearbook,
A recurrent problem since independence has been the situation of the Biharis, a group of Urdu speaking Pakistani Muslims, residing in Bangladesh. Following independence in 1971, this group of approximately 238,000 people opted for Pakistan citizenship, and Pakistan agreed in principle to accept them. However, their resettlement has not been carried out, and there seems to be resistance in Pakistan to receive them. The Biharis live in separate camps throughout Bangladesh. They may seek employment and conduct other activities, but as noncitizens they do not vote, hold seats in Parliament, or hold passports. Biharis may apply for Bangladeshi citizenship at any time and those who do, are granted full rights (1995, 123).
However, according to the attached 8 March 1997 Deutsche Presse-Agentur article, Biharis have "refused to take Bangladeshi nationality."
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Deutsche Presse-Agentur (DPA). 8 March 1997. BC Cycle. "Bhutto Opposed to Repatriation of Stranded Biharis from Bangladesh." (NEXIS)
High Commission for the People's Republic of Bangladesh, Ottawa. 24 September 1997. Fax sent by counsellor.
Human Rights in Developing Countries Yearbook 1995. 1995. Edited by Peter Baehr et al. Oslo: Nordic Human Rights Institute.
Attachments
Deutsche Presse-Agentur (DPA). 8 March 1997. BC Cycle. "Bhutto Opposed to Repatriation of Stranded Biharis from Bangladesh." (NEXIS)
High Commission for the People's Republic of Bangladesh, Ottawa. 24 September 1997. Fax sent by counsellor.
Additional Sources Consulted
Bangladesh. 1978. Bangladesh Citizenship (Temporary Provisions) Rules, 1978.
_____. 1972. Bangladesh Citizenship (Temporary Provisions) Order, 1972.
Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1996. 1997.
DIRB. June 1997. Contextual Human Rights Package: Bangladesh.
_____. June 1997. Human Rights Information Package: Bangladesh.
USCR. 1995. World Refugee Survey 1997.
Electronic sources: DIRB Databases, REFWORLD (UNHCR database).
Oral sources:
One oral source did not provide information on the requested subject.
