In 2020, Bangladesh became the first country in south Asia to launch e-passports, making them available through 72 offices in 64 districts. In line with that endeavour, e-passports can now be acquired from 80 Bangladeshi missions across the world according to the government.
E-passports have a lot of potential and a large number of benefits over regular passports. Now, if such technological advancements can be introduced into other government services, we can usher in a Bangladesh that is truly digital and smart.
However, given the advancements we have made with the advent of e-passports, there really is no excuse anymore for passport services to be as much of a hassle as they still are.
There are few arms of the government more susceptible to unchecked bureaucracy and corruption than our passport offices -- from online applications that go nowhere to long queues at the physical office, getting a passport is nowhere as easy or smooth a process as it should be. In fact, earlier this year we witnessed a drive carried out by the Anti-Corruption Commission that investigated reports of rampant bribery at the Agargaon passport office.
While bribery and corruption are not exclusive to our passport office, what is especially egregious is that citizens often find themselves subject to inordinate harassment and obstructions when seeking services as simple as renewing one’s passport despite following the proper channels and procedures.
These are the kinds of issues which need to be prioritized when it comes to our administrative services.
Our passport is already one of the weakest in the world, and it is disheartening that, when Bangladeshis want to go abroad, they have to face so much harassment and friction over something as elementary as passport services. This needs to change.
