Distribution of the e-passport (electronic passport) is set to start from January 22 as the authorities have completed its preparation and formalities to the enter e-passport era. ‘We are working to launch e-passport on January 22,’ Director General (DG) of Department of Immigration and Passports (DIP) Major General Shakil Ahmed told BSS. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to launch the e-passport at a programme to be held at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) at 10am on January 22, said Shakil Ahmed.
He said initially the DIP will distribute e-passport from Agargaon, Jatrabari and Uttara passport offices and later, e-passport will be distributed in phases from DIP offices across the country. Renowned German company Veridos GmbH has been working on e-passport and e-gate in the country, he said, adding that efforts are underway to make immigration process flawless with introduction of the e-passport. According to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), there are more than 100 States and non-state entities (i.e. United Nations) currently issuing e-Passports, and over 490 million e-Passports are in circulation.
E-passports add a layer of security to traditional non-electronic passports by embedding an electronic chip in the passport booklet that stores the biographical information visible on page 2 of the passport, as well as a digital security feature. The digital security feature is a country specific ‘digital signature.’ These digital signatures are unique to each country and can be verified using their respective certificates. According to the project details, the project ‘Introduction of Bangladesh e-Passport and Automatic Border Control Management’ is being implemented at a cost of Taka 4,569 crore.
The DIP is implementing the project from July, 2018 to June, 2028, with full government funding. A total of 30 million passports will be delivered in 10 years. With issuing the e-Passport the whole process of the immigration formalities will be completed through online. It said two million e-passports will be made in Germany. As a result, the passports of those who apply first will be made from Germany. Validity of e-passport will be for five and 10 years.
The DIP and Germany Veridos signed an agreement on July 19 in 2018 for electronic passports alongside machine-readable ones.