Mujtoba Ahmed Murshed
There’s an increasing trend of people leaving the Bangladesh, often citing reasons such as safety concerns or the belief that there are limited career opportunities here. For many, the solution lies in moving to countries like Europe, America, Australia, or Canada.
Every year, hundreds of young people and middle-aged individuals leave country due to its socio-political instability. Among them, a significant number seek political asylum abroad; some succeed, while others do not. In this chain, many Bangladeshis who dreamed of gaining political asylum in Europe have been shattered by the European Union’s declaration of Bangladesh as a “safe” country.
Very recently, Italy officially notified the European Union headquarters that it is no longer willing to grant political asylum to Bangladeshis, as the country is safe now. Though the news is somewhat old, its implications are profound. According to the European Commission’s list published on April 16, Bangladesh, along with Kosovo, Cambodia, Egypt, India, Morocco, and Tunisia, has now been included in the list of safe countries.
Indeed, the ground reality is that the Italian people and administration have grown frustrated with the numerous negative behaviors of Bangladeshis, and this is what I recall from my own experience in October 2004, when I entered Italy via Switzerland and Germany, reaching Rome. However, according to BBC Bengali, “Among the countries whose citizens seek asylum in Europe, Bangladesh is at the forefront. In terms of numbers for 2023 and 2024, Bangladesh ranked sixth among the top countries from which asylum is requested.”
The countries ahead of Bangladesh in asylum applications include Syria, Afghanistan, Venezuela, Turkey, and Colombia. This data comes from the European Union Agency for Asylum. According to their figures, in 2024, 43,236 Bangladeshis applied for asylum, with 47,778 applications still pending. However, the success rate for Bangladeshi asylum applications remains quite low. Only about 3.94% of asylum seekers are successful, while 96.06% fail. This means that, when considering the threshold of a success rate of less than 20% as suggested, Bangladeshis rank quite low in the success rates.
In general, when political asylum is sought, it is often seen that whenever there is a change in the government of Bangladesh or when one political party oppresses the other party’s supporters, the members of the oppressed party seek asylum, presenting themselves as victims of political persecution. This formula has allowed thousands from Bangladesh to gain citizenship over the past few decades. However, with this new decision, it will become more difficult for citizens of Bangladesh and other countries on the list to receive political asylum, as their applications will be subject to faster and more stringent scrutiny.
From the perspective of the European Commission, it has been suggested that the implementation of certain aspects of last year’s ‘Migration and Asylum Pact’ should be expedited, which was originally set to come into effect in June 2026. Under this proposal, applications from citizens of these seven countries are expected to be processed swiftly, with a higher likelihood of rejection. However, the EU has stated that it aims to fast-track the adoption of two main rules in order to expedite the process. The European Commission proposed this measure “so that asylum requests that are likely to be unfounded can be resolved quickly and efficiently, assisting member states.” One reason for this is that, according to EU statistics, less than 20% of migrants who are ordered to be sent back to their home countries are actually returned.
What is the process for obtaining political asylum and picture of the reality? The first step for an individual entering Europe or any other country is to apply for political asylum, with the respective country treating the application as a legal case. In this connection, I cannot hold back but share my personal experience, as I worked as a political adviser at the German Foreign Service stationed in Dhaka’s Embassy for 17 years, from 1997 to 2013. During that time, I held the final responsibility for reviewing and approving the files of individuals seeking political asylum from Bangladesh. According to the procedure, each application was verified by a lawyer in Bangladesh before being sent to the embassy, where I would re-examine it. What struck me most from my experience was that the majority of these applicants used forged documents, claiming to be active members of political parties and victims of political violence, often tailoring their stories to fit a customized narrative.
Now the scenario is that the Human rights organizations in Europe have condemned the European Union’s recent decision, which aims to expedite asylum applications from individuals in designated “safe” countries. Magnus Brunner, the EU Commissioner for Migration, emphasized that this move would help address significant backlogs in asylum decisions, highlighting the urgent need for faster processing.
However, critics argue that each asylum claim should be evaluated on an individual basis, rather than dismissing applications solely based on a country’s “safe” status. The decision comes amid the rising influence of far-right, anti-immigration parties in Europe, pushing for stricter immigration policies, including the deportation of asylum seekers.
The EU Commission has clarified that this decision does not constitute a blanket declaration of “safe” countries, and exceptions may apply, particularly for those affected by conflict, as seen with Ukraine. The list of “safe” countries could expand or be revised over time, reflecting the countries from which a significant number of asylum seekers are arriving in Europe.
As for those who have already sought asylum, their applications will undergo stricter scrutiny due to the inclusion of “safe” countries. The Commission assures that each case will still be individually reviewed. This faster process may lead to more rejections, with rejected applicants being sent back to their home countries. For many who sought asylum in Europe after the fall of the Awami League government, especially those who siphoned off large sums of money gained through corruption, this new policy could place them in a precarious position, particularly regarding their accumulated assets.
Another significant aspect of this policy is that countless young Bangladeshis, who had been taking risks through middlemen to enter foreign countries, will now exercise more caution. Thousands of young people, hoping for a better life, spent large sums of money to enter various European countries, only to end up in prisons, living miserable lives while their asylum applications dragged on for years. Some have even lost their lives on dangerous routes. Due to the new regulations, these young people will face obstacles right from the start and will likely decide to lead safer lives within their own country, avoiding potential risks.
In conclusion, the inclusion of Bangladesh in the European Union’s list of “safe” countries has brought an opportunity for the protection of those who are truly victims of violence, and it has shattered the hopes of those who sought asylum in Europe after looting the nation’s wealth.
The writer is a poet, litterateur, and political analyst
