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2 months ago

Bangladeshi expatriates to get machine-readable passports from Dec 15

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The Bangladesh government has announced that it will once again supply machine-readable passports (MRPs) to expatriates from Dec 15 after a long delay.

On Wednesday, Asif Nazrul, advisor to the Ministry of Law and the Ministry of Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment, announced the decision in a video message on his verified Facebook account.

Those who have already applied will receive their passports within the next three to four weeks, he said.

The decision was finalised during a meeting with the relevant authorities on Tuesday, according to the advisor. In addition to him, the advisors of foreign affairs and home affairs, officials from the Department of Immigration and Passports, and other stakeholders attended the meeting.

Initially, expatriates residing in Malaysia and Saudi Arabia who have applied for passports will receive them within three to four weeks after Dec 15.

After that, MRPs will be distributed on a priority basis in countries where the demand is high. All problems will be resolved within three to four weeks, Nazrul said.

Addressing the cause of the delay, he said that complications arose during the Awami League regime.

The then minister tried to illegally award the passport printing contract to a company he was connected to, resulting in a delay of one and a half years, Nazrul said. There have been some delays in cancelling the contract and resolving everything quickly.

Media reports at various times have said that some 26,000 expatriates living in Malaysia have not received passports for several months.

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