e-passport to be introduced on Nov 28

The government will introduce the e-passport with 10-year validity on November 28, gradually replacing the current machine readable ones that expire after five years.

Revealing this to journalists at his office in Dhaka yesterday, Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen expressed optimism that e-passport’s introduction will save people from the trouble they face while renewing passports.

He acknowledged that people both at home and abroad face problems in getting passports.

“e-passport was supposed to be introduced in July, but it is getting delayed. I have met the people of the company in Germany that has been given the task.

“Now, our e-passport will be introduced on November 28,” said the minister, who returned home on Wednesday after visiting Germany, France, Italy, Greece and Azerbaijan.

Momen, however, added that it will take some time for general people to get e-passport, despite its introduction next month.