The High Court on Sunday ordered the authorities to dispose of all pending applications for new passports and passport renewals filed by Bangladeshi expatriates within 60 days.
A High Court bench of Justice Md Habibul Gani and Justice Syed Mohammad Tajrul Hossain passed the order following a public interest writ petition.
Senior Advocate Manzill Murshid appeared for the petitioners.
The writ was filed by the rights and environmental organisation Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB).
In an interim order, the court directed the passport authorities to process all pending applications for new passports and renewals within 60 days and submit a progress report within 90 days.
The court also issued a four-week rule asking the government to explain why its alleged failure to promptly process expatriates' passport applications should not be declared illegal and why it should not be directed to ensure their speedy disposal.
In a separate directive, the High Court ordered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to issue a circular within 21 days instructing all Bangladeshi embassies and high commissions to promptly forward expatriates' applications for new passports and renewals to the Department of Immigration and Passports for processing.
The ministry has also been directed to submit a compliance report to the court within 30 days.
The petition was filed on behalf of HRPB by Advocates Mohammad Sarwar Ahad Chowdhury, Ripon Barai and Mahbubul Islam.
The respondents include the cabinet secretary, the principal secretary to the Prime Minister's Office, the secretaries of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment, and Law, as well as the director general of the Department of Immigration and Passports, among 14 respondents.
Following the hearing, Manzill Murshid said the court's interim order aims to ensure the timely processing of expatriates' passport applications, addressing longstanding delays that have caused hardship for Bangladeshis living abroad.
