Briton Lucy Holt gets 15-year Bangladesh visa, fee waiver but not citizenship

Bangladesh authorities have granted the 15-year multiple-entry visa with a fee waiver to Lucy Helen Frances Holt, the 87-year-old Briton who has spent 57 years of her life serving the communities in the country.

But, her dual citizenship application has remained in the pipeline which the authorities believe would be 'resolved very soon,' according to the top administrator of southwestern Barisal district where she is based.

Deputy Commissioner of Barisal Md Habibur Rahman, who had applied for Holt’s citizenship and visa fee waiver, confirmed the news quoting a letter signed by the senior assistant secretary of the home ministry, Manira Huq.

bdnews24.com ran a report headlined “Two Britons’ unrequited love for Bangladesh: Citizenship eludes Lucy, Julian Francis” about a month ago.

The report mentioned another Briton, Julian Francis who was honoured with 'Friends of Bangladesh' accolade for his contribution in the country's Independence War and who has been living in the country since 1988.

"Initially, she has been given 15-year multiple entries visa with all fees waived," Habibur said, "The issue of dual citizenship will be resolved soon."

Reacting to the latest development, Holt said, "I am grateful to the government (of Bangladesh). I had to pay a lot of money, Tk 34,000 every year, to renew my visa. It was difficult for me to arrange that money with my limited income. The issue will be resolved by granting the dual citizenship."

Born in 1930, Holt came to Bangladesh in 1960 as a primary school teacher at the Oxford Mission in Barisal. She has not looked back ever since. She has worked in Khulna, Naogaon, Gopalganj, Kurhigram and Dhaka.

During the 1971 Independence War, she served the injured freedom fighters at a field hospital in Jessore.

After retirement in 2004, she has been working for the mental growth of the students of the Oxford Mission and imparting English lessons.

She wants to be buried in Barisal after death.