The Netherlands Ambassador to Bangladesh, Joris van Bommel, stated that the embassy has increased scrutiny of student visa applications after noticing many applicants using education as a pretext to remain in the Netherlands rather than to study. Applications often raise concerns when students cannot speak English, cannot explain their academic plans, or are unfamiliar with the university or faculty they claim to join. Stricter checks aim to speed up processing for genuine students.
Speaking at a BRAC University event, he advised students not to rely on agents and highlighted long-standing Bangladesh-Netherlands cooperation in water management, agriculture, sustainability, and maritime sectors. He also emphasized challenge-based learning, noting that most Dutch courses are taught in English, and highlighted joint research initiatives linked to the Bangladesh Delta Plan, as well as growing collaborations in AI and healthcare.
