Fee and validity period of machine-readable passport (MRP) are going to be doubled within two or three weeks, said NM Ziaul Alam, director general of the Department of Immigration and Passport.
While talking to Dhaka Tribune yesterday he also said: “Until the circular is issued the fees will remain the same as earlier.”
The decision of doubling the fees and validity was made by the government and the proposal was submitted to the Home Ministry much earlier.
“But the circular will be issued very soon by the Home Ministry,” the DG said.
The present fee for the MRP including 15% VAT for new applicants are Tk3,450 (Regular) and Tk6,900 (Express).
The proposed fee for MRP is Tk6,325 (Regular) and Tk12,650 (Express).
And the validity period of the MRP would be doubled also in the next circular. The validity period will be 10 years in the proposed new rules which is now 5 years, DG Ziaul Alam.
However, the pages of the MRP which contains 48 pages will remain the same.
Asked why it was not proposed to increase the number of pages of the MRP, the DG replied: “The proposal is being scrutinised by the authorities concerned.”
A competent source in the Home Ministry said the ministry proposed increasing 33% fee of the MRP and sent it to the Finance Ministry.
But the Finance Ministry increased the fee by 83% to raise the revenue.
