The Department of Immigration and Passports (DIP) has suspended electronic and machine-readable passport (MRP) operations today, as a precautionary measure to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

However, MRP renewals will continue, in case there is no change in information.

"We have suspended the operations for e-passport and MRP until further notice, considering the health risk and spread of the deadly virus," Major General Shakil Ahmed, director general of DIP, told The Daily Star.

Brig Gen Saidur Rahman Khan, e-passport project director, said they have to take biometrics and retina scans for the e-passport application process.

"This is risky as the virus can spread while giving finger prints on the machine reader; the operators also assist the applicants by touching their hands to complete the procedure," he added.

Besides, an applicant needs to insert a part of their face into a machine to complete their retina scan, he said.

"We do not know the physical condition of the previous applicant, and it is also not possible to clean the scanning machine with sanitiser every time as it would damage it," said the project director.

"For this reason, we have suspended operations. It will resume operations once the situation returns to normalcy."

When asked about the MRP, he said that also requires biometrics to complete the task.

However, if any applicant comes to re-issue their MRP and if they do not need to change any information, then they will get their passport, he added.

New MRP applications and re-issue of a child's MRP will remain suspended, as they will need to change their information and go through the biometric process, he added.

In the case of Hajj or special cases, the MRP operations will remain open, said the Major General Shakil Ahmed, director general of DIP.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had launched the e-passport and e-gate services at a ceremony at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre on January 22.