These days, there is a lot of talk about various types of cards around us. However, none of those cards meet my needs. I have only one requirement—a "Visa Card." Please do not misunderstand me. I am not talking about a bank's Visa credit or debit card. I am talking about a symbolic "Visa Card" that would make obtaining a visa for any country in the world easier, and ensure at least a minimum level of respect while standing at an immigration desk as a Bangladeshi.

Over the past few years, traveling abroad has become increasingly difficult for Bangladeshi passport holders. The moment a green passport is seen, a shadow of suspicion seems to cross the eyes of many countries. Getting a visa is tough, and even if obtained, the duration is short. Most of the countries that once offered on-arrival visa facilities are now a thing of the past. Except for a handful of nations, that opportunity is virtually extinct.

I have been living in Brunei for the last 18 years. Yet today, even in Brunei, getting a visa for Bangladeshis is not as easy as it used to be. While my spouse and I have certain privileges, the situation is quite complicated for our children.

An Example of the Struggle: Suppose a Bangladeshi student is studying in Johor Bahru, Malaysia. If they simply want to visit their parents in Brunei for a few days, they are left with three difficult paths:

First option: They must return to Bangladesh and collect a visa from the Brunei High Commission. This means traveling from Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur, then to Dhaka, and then via Dhaka to Brunei—such a long and expensive journey just for a single visa.

Second option: They have to go to Kuala Lumpur to apply. They must stay there for at least three working days. For a student, the extra cost of food and lodging, along with the time, is a heavy burden.

Third option: Singapore. But entering Singapore requires a separate visa altogether. Not only that, but Bangladeshis living in Johor Bahru often have to first obtain a recommendation letter from the Bangladesh High Commission in Kuala Lumpur just to apply for a Singaporean visa. In other words, you have to chase one visa just to get another.

Yet, even a few years ago, our children could easily come to Brunei on an on-arrival visa to visit their parents. Today, that opportunity no longer exists. This suffering is not unique to my family; rather, it is the daily reality for countless Bangladeshi expatriates living outside capital cities in various countries around the world.

The question is, as Bangladeshis, why must we repeatedly face such complexities? Why is there so much uncertainty, expense, and harassment just to get a visa? Why should we feel uncomfortable about our identity while standing at foreign immigration counters?

A country's passport is not merely a travel document; it is a reflection of that nation's international standing, diplomatic capability, and the world's trust in its citizens. The stronger the passport, the greater the respect for its citizens. Therefore, I sincerely urge the government to consider enhancing the international acceptability and dignity of the Bangladeshi passport as a matter of national priority. Effective steps must be taken through bilateral and multilateral diplomatic initiatives to expand easier visa arrangements, visa-on-arrival, or visa-free travel opportunities with more countries.

We do not want any special privileges. We do not want the doors of the world to be opened specially for us. We only want to be able to stand with dignity, holding our heads high, at the immigration desk of any country in the world as a Bangladeshi and say—this passport is my identity, and this identity is not a burden.

My long-cherished "Visa Card" is not actually a piece of plastic. It is the symbol of a strong, dignified Bangladeshi passport—one that, when carried, will reduce unnecessary harassment, make travel easier, and ensure that a Bangladeshi receives their due respect in any corner of the world.