Rejection Rate for Bangladeshi Asylum Seekers in Europe Hits Record 99%

The rejection rate for Bangladeshi asylum seekers in European Union countries reached 99% in the first half of 2026, up from 94% in 2016, according to statistics from the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA).

Despite a 146% increase in the number of Bangladeshi asylum applications over the past decade, opportunities to secure protection in Europe have narrowed significantly.

According to EUAA data, around 15,000 Bangladeshis applied for asylum in EU countries in 2016. The number rose to 36,901 in 2025, while 19,521 applications were submitted in the first six months of 2026.

Applications fluctuated over the years, falling to 11,570 in 2020 amid COVID-19 restrictions before rising sharply. Bangladeshis submitted 40,332 applications in 2023, followed by a decade-high 43,236 in 2024. The figure declined somewhat in 2025 as asylum applications across Europe decreased. Bangladesh ranked fourth among countries of origin for asylum seekers in EU+ countries that year.

Italy remained the most popular destination for Bangladeshi asylum seekers, ranking first for three consecutive years from 2023 to 2025. France ranked second, while Greece moved into third place in 2025.

European authorities have also accelerated the processing of asylum applications. In 2025, they processed 43,523 applications from Bangladeshis, exceeding the number of new applications filed that year. As a result, the backlog fell from 47,778 cases in 2024 to 41,692 in 2025. Across EU+ countries, the overall asylum recognition rate was 29% in 2025.

Migration experts attribute irregular migration to limited employment opportunities in Bangladesh, declining agricultural incomes, restricted access to legal migration channels and the activities of human trafficking networks.

Shakirul Islam, chairman of the Ovibashi Karmi Unnayan Program (OKUP), said unemployment, the effects of climate change on agricultural earnings and the expansion of trafficking networks in remote areas were pushing people towards dangerous migration routes.

He cited a recent OKUP field survey in Madaripur that covered 699 households. The survey found that 402 households had information indicating irregular migration, primarily to Italy and other European destinations through Libya.

According to Islam, organized international trafficking networks operate along the route from rural Bangladesh through Libya to Italy. People of Bangladeshi origin are involved at different stages, while local militias exercise control over parts of the route in Libya.

Bangladesh’s progress and shortcomings in combating human trafficking were also highlighted in the US State Department’s 2026 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report, published on October 8. Bangladesh remained in Tier 2, where it has been classified for seven consecutive years. The report acknowledged increased investigations and prosecutions, along with new legal measures, but noted continuing gaps in judicial processes, victim protection and efforts to reduce risks faced by migrant workers.

Migration expert Asif Munir called for stronger coordination among government agencies to curb irregular migration and the misuse of asylum procedures.

He said inadequate awareness of the consequences of rejected asylum applications leaves many people vulnerable to fraud. He also warned that some applicants use fabricated claims and false documents, undermining Bangladesh’s international reputation and potentially harming the rights of genuine asylum seekers.

Munir recommended raising awareness through Bangladeshi diplomatic missions abroad, informing prospective migrants about the legal consequences of fraudulent applications, and strengthening coordination among the ministries responsible for home affairs, passports and foreign affairs to monitor high-risk migration routes and combat trafficking networks.