Ministry seeks CA’s nod to relax police verification for passport
The Security Services Division of the Home Ministry has submitted a summary to Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, seeking approval to relax the police verification requirement for passport issuance.
The proposal aims to alleviate public suffering and streamline passport services by leveraging online verification systems.
This development was announced on Monday (February 17) by Deputy Press Secretary to the Chief Adviser, Apurba Jahangir.
Under the proposed changes, citizens applying for a new passport will no longer require police verification if their information matches the verified National Identity Card (NID) database, Bangladeshi citizens and minors residing abroad can have their passports issued without police verification, provided their birth registration certificates are authenticated through an online system.
The directive clarifies that verifying application details against the NID or Birth Registration databases will fulfil the investigative requirements outlined in Section 5(2) of the Bangladesh Passport Order, 1973, eliminating the need for traditional police checks.
Passport issuance is among Bangladesh's most critical citizen services. With over 10 million Bangladeshis working globally, and approximately 30,000 people leaving the country monthly for employment, the demand for efficient passport services is immense. Additionally, citizens travel abroad for higher education, permanent residence, and other purposes, underscoring the necessity of timely document processing.
Currently, the country’s passport office receives around 28,000 to 30,000 applications daily, printing 25,000 to 28,000 passports daily under the existing e-passport system. While applicants can submit forms and pay fees online, they must visit the office for biometric data collection and passport collection. Normal passports are issued within 12 working days, while express ones are delivered within three working days.
However, delays in police verification often cause significant inconvenience. Complaints include late receipt of verification reports and unnecessary scrutiny of unrelated documents during the process.
To address these issues, the Chief Adviser has directed the removal of the police verification step, ensuring faster and less burdensome service delivery.
According to Section 5(2) of the Bangladesh Passport Order, 1973, necessary investigations must be conducted before issuing passports. Traditionally, the Immigration and Passport Department—a special branch of the Bangladesh Police—and occasionally the National Security Intelligence Directorate (NSI) handle these inquiries.
The ministry now proposes simplifying this process by relying solely on the NID database for adult applicants and birth registration certificates for minors. This approach aligns with modernising efforts to enhance convenience and reduce bureaucratic hurdles.
