1607197 (Refugee)

This matter concerned an application for protection visas by individuals from Bangladesh. The first applicant claimed to fear harm from Islamic extremists due to her Christian faith, her involvement in the Shahbag protests supporting the punishment of war criminals and opposing Islamic fundamentalism, and her activities as a music teacher and singer promoting Christianity. She alleged she had been subjected to threats, intimidation, and attacks. The Tribunal was required to determine whether the applicants met the criteria for a protection visa, considering both the refugee criterion and the complementary protection criterion.

The Tribunal considered the applicants' claims in light of Ministerial Direction No. 56, relevant policy guidelines, and country information assessments. The central legal issue was whether there were substantial grounds for believing that the applicants would suffer significant harm if returned to Bangladesh, either due to a well-founded fear of persecution for a Convention reason or as a necessary and foreseeable consequence of removal. The Tribunal specifically examined the credibility of the applicants' evidence, including inconsistencies and delays in their departure from Bangladesh and their travel to another country.

The Tribunal found that while the applicants, as members of a Christian minority in Bangladesh, might encounter some harassment and taunts, these did not amount to serious harm for the refugee criterion or significant harm for the complementary protection criterion. The Tribunal did not accept as true the claims of attacks by Islamic extremists or that the applicants feared for their lives for the reasons stated. The Tribunal noted that country information indicated a low risk of societal violence for Christians in Bangladesh, and given the applicants' history of living and working in Bangladesh, their prior involvement with their church community and cultural groups, and their ability to travel, it concluded there was not a real chance or real risk of suffering significant harm. Consequently, the Tribunal affirmed the decision under review.