The Bangladesh High Commission in Canberra has given an assurance that the integrity of its consular documents has been fully restored.
It follows revelations that some refugees in Australia are being scammed by fake visas as they attempt to return to visit relatives in Bangladesh.
SBS Bangla discovered that at least 20 Rohingyas living in Australia were recently detained at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka on 24 December 2018.
A police investigation is underway amid claims by victims that a Bangladesh High Commission employee Canberra was linked to the issuing of visas.
Earlier, the Bangladesh High Commissioner Sufiur Rahman acknowledged that the High Commission had received travel documents with 'fake handwritten visas' on them ... from some Rohingya refugees from Australia.
"While we have allegations, we cannot conclusively establish involvement of any of our staff, though we have received names of some agents/ handlers perhaps from Sydney and Melbourne," Mr Rahman said in an email to SBS Bangla.
One of the fake visas allegedly issued. Source: Supplied
Assurance by High Commission
A press release issued on 18th January 2019, said: “several agents, involved in the fraudulent act of issuing fake visa by forging the signature of High Commission’s Visa Officer, have been identified."
The statement goes on to say the matter is "under investigation by the competent authorities in Bangladesh and perhaps Australia."
Australian Federal Police (AFP) have confirmed to SBS Bangla that ACT Police have received complaints regarding 'an alleged fraud concerning the issuing of visas for travel', saying investigations are continuing.
The High Commission in Canberra phased out manually filled in visas February 2018 in favour of newer, machine-readable visas. However, it's claimed that some manual visas continued to be issued without the knowledge of the High Commission.
Many Rohingyas currently in Australia have told SBS Bangla that a combination of a lack of English, not knowing how the system works and a lengthy process to issue visas led them to seek help from within the community.
'No Visa Required' seal remains intact
The High Commission statement goes to clarify the status of the No Visa Required (NVR) seal saying "(The) No Visa Required seal affixed to members of Bangladesh diaspora are not visas and their integrity remain intact."
It states that anyone who may have doubts about the authenticity of their consular documents should contact the High Commission.
It's also appealing for information on any 'wrongdoing related to (the) issuance of consular documents and consular services'.
