DHAKA, Jan 21, 2020 (BSS) – The government will launch the electronic
passport (e-passport) programme tomorrow aiming to enhance acceptability of
Bangladeshi passports abroad and make immigration process easier.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to inaugurate the e-passport
programme at Bangabandhu International Conference Center (BICC) here tomorrow
morning.
Marking the occasion, President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh
Hasina issued separate messages wishing the success of e-passport programme.
In his message, President Abdul Hamid said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman dreamt to put Bangladesh at a prestigious position in
the world and the government is working sincerely to fulfill his dream.
Passport is an indicator of status and an important document for a country
or nation abroad, he said, adding that in the era of globalization, people
have to travel to different countries for various reasons, including official
visits, employment, education and research.
The President said he thinks that issuing e-passports, instead of machine
readable passports (MRPs), is a modern and time befitting initiative, which
will help ensure civic amenities and free movement of the country’s people.
Marking the Mujib Year, Abdul Hamid said reaching e-passports to the
country’s people is a milestone in building ‘Sonar Bangla’ dreamt by Father
of the Nation, which puts the nation at a prestigious position.
“I do believe that the Department of Immigration and Passports will perform
its duty sincerely and honestly to reach its services to people in a quickest
possible time.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in her message, said she is highly delighted
to know that e-passports, which includes modern technology, is going to be
issued to people and welcomed the modern service-oriented initiative.
She said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman established
the Department of Immigration and Passports in 1973, while the government is
working sincerely to build a developed and prosperous Bangladesh by
implementing its “Vision 2021 and Vision 2041”.
The Awami League government digitalised all the activities of Department of
Immigration and Passports and set up 69 passports offices in 64 districts, 33
immigration check-posts and passports and visa wings at 75 missions abroad
aiming to reach the passport, visa and immigration services at the doorsteps
of people, the premier said.
In 2010, she said, the government took the Machine Readable Passports (MRP)
and Machine Readable Visa (MRV) Project and the MRPs were so far issued to
about 2.7 crore Bangladeshi citizens, while MRVs to 15 lakh foreigners.
Sheikh Hasina went on saying: “Keeping pace with the developed world, we
are going to introduce e-passport with a view to modernising immigration
service. E-gate is going to be incorporated with e-passport. Once e-passport
and e-gate are introduced, the immigration and passport services will be
easier, smooth and international standard ones.”