To reduce harassment in passport-related services, the government of Bangladesh is in the process of appointing agencies or vendors. These agencies will assist applicants in accurately filling out applications for new passports, passport reissues (both domestically and abroad), visa applications, and all other passport and visa-related services. They will charge a fixed fee for their services and will establish offices near passport centers to assist customers.
If any appointed agency or vendor is found guilty of fraud or overcharging applicants, their license will be immediately revoked. The initiative is primarily aimed at minimizing hassles and ensuring a smooth experience for passport and visa applicants, according to sources at the Department of Immigration and Passports (DIP).
Officials have stated that now applicants can apply for passports, pay fees, and even receive their passports from the comfort of their homes. Applicants will only need to visit the passport office once for biometric data collection, including photographs, iris scans, and fingerprints.
Additionally, a recent circular from the Security Services Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs outlines that passports will now be issued based on verified information from the applicant’s National ID (NID) or birth registration certificate. As a result, the traditional police verification process has been eliminated. This reform aims to reduce applicant hardship and ensure timely delivery of passports.
The circular, issued on February 18, specifies that:
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For new passport applications, if the applicant’s NID information is verified online, police verification is no longer required.
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For Bangladeshi citizens residing abroad and minors, online-verified birth registration data will suffice for passport issuance.
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In case of reissuance, if there are changes to basic information (such as name, parents’ names, date of birth, or place of birth), the information from the NID will be used without requiring additional verification.
These measures have been taken to simplify passport services. Previously, delays caused by police verification led to dissatisfaction among applicants. Now, under the Super Express Service, passports can be issued within 24 to 48 hours if urgently needed.
Regular and Express passports are also being delivered within the promised timelines, significantly reducing customer suffering and improving satisfaction. To further ease the process and reduce costs, DIP is moving forward with the appointment of agencies. They are also exploring options for delivering passports directly to applicants’ homes via postal services.