Renew migrant workers’ passports within 15 days
JS body to Department of Immigration and Passports
A parliamentary body yesterday raised questions over the necessity of police verification for acquiring passports, as people often face harassment in the regard.
The parliamentary standing committee on foreign affairs in its meeting at Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban also asked top officials of Department of Immigration and Passports to ensure that Bangladeshi migrants can renew their passports within 15 days without any hassle.
“In case of failure, we have asked the director general of the Department of Immigration and Passports to inform the respective Bangladeshi migrants about the delay,” Awami League MP and chief of the parliamentary watchdog Lt Col (retd) Faruk Khan told reporters after the meeting.
He said while travelling abroad on several occasions, many Bangladeshi workers complained to him that they face harassment during renewal of their passports.
Faruk Khan said Bangladeshi migrants also alleged that due to delay in the renewal process, they faced problems at their workplaces abroad.
In reply, Major General Shakil Ahmed, director general, Department of Immigration and Passports, informed the JS body that errors in providing information like date of birth, name of parent etc. often lead to delay in renewal of passports.
He said after completion of passport renewal, they have started sending those to the respective Bangladeshi migrants through courier service.
He also said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is likely to inaugurate e-passport programme in December while e-passports will be issued from January next year.
Saying that inefficient government officials are being selected in many cases for overseas visits, the committee asked the foreign ministry’s top officials to be cautious in this regard.
JS BODY TO VISIT 4 COUNTRIES
The parliamentary committee will go to Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia later this month and early November to gain support of the government of those countries regarding repatriation of Rohingyas to Myanmar as early as possible.
During the visit, the JS body members will hold meeting with their counterparts, speakers of parliaments and foreign ministries of the four countries, said Faruk Khan.