Advisor Touhid says surrendering diplomatic passport during tenure is ‘highly unusual’

This follows media claims that three advisors recently submitted their diplomatic passports for ordinary ones

Foreign Advisor Touhid Hossain has dismissed reports over the surrender of his diplomatic passport, labelling the claims as "misinformation”.

Responding to journalists at an event in Dhaka on Sunday, Touhid said, “This is how misinformation spreads.”

“Neither I nor my wife have surrendered our diplomatic passports. My passport is still with me and remains valid.”

“It would be very unusual for a foreign advisor or minister to surrender a diplomatic passport while still in office. That would have been an exceptional incident, and I certainly have not done so,” he said.

His comments follow recent media reports suggesting that three interim government advisors, including Touhid, had submitted their diplomatic passports to apply for standard ones.

While he denied the claims over his own documents, Touhid noted that some Advisory Council members had indeed surrendered their diplomatic passports to apply for ordinary ones.

He did not, however, disclose their identities.

"Some ministers have done so because they plan to travel abroad. By applying early, they can secure visas more easily," he explained.

On whether diplomatic passports ease visa procedures, Touhid explained: “It’s about saving time. Once their ordinary passports are ready, they will be fine when the diplomatic ones expire. For example, US B 1/B 2 visas remain valid even if the passport expires, but travellers must carry a new passport.”