Bangladesh is going to enter the era of ultramodern digital passports, also known as electronic passports (e-passport), from July 1.The government will start distribution of the world’s most secured passport with 10 years’ validity from the day to ease the immigration process.Although the process saw some delay in the beginning, the Department of Immigration and Passports (DIP) has started the work in full swing now. According DIP, at first decision was taken to give e-passports only to VVIP persons including the president and the prime minister while other citizens, it was planned, could apply in the following phase. However, the passport department has changed the decision and now all citizens will be apply for the e-passport from the very first day of the distribution process. Within few months after the inauguration of e-passport on July 1, the department will be capable of printing about 25,000 passports per day. E-passport project director Brigadier General Saidur Rahman Kahn said, “We are working with a German firm to prepare the passports.” “Our preparations for starting e-passport distribution are almost complete,” he continued, “We hope we will be able to start it from July 1.” Although the work of e-passport project has almost completed, the fee for availing the e-passport is yet to be determined. Brigadier General Saidur Rahman Kahn said, “The finance ministry will fix the fee of the passport.” “Meanwhile, after inauguration, we will need some days for full setup. After completing full setup, it will be possible for us to print 25,000 passport a day,” he added. According to passport department, they have proposed at least Tk 6,000 as for an e-passport of 10 years validity. Any citizen will get the e-passport within 21 working days if they pay Tk 6,000, according to their proposal. Besides, the department has proposed Tk 12,000 as fee for getting passport within seven days under Express Delivery service, and Tk 15,000 for Super Express Delivery. Officials said the e-passport will have an embedded electronic microprocessor chip, which will contain biometric information used to authenticate the identity of the bearer. Department of Immigration and Passports (DIP) sources said e-passports will have 38 types of security features. Data currently available in the Machine Readable Passport (MRP) database will be transferred to e-passports. Last June, the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) approved a project to introduce e-passports, which many countries of the world are using nowadays. On July 19 last year, Bangladesh government and German firm Veridos GmbH signed an agreement in this regard. The passport distribution activities was expected to begin in December the same year. However, the process saw some unexpected delays, according to passport office sources. Around 120 countries have already introduced e-passports.
