Stopgap measures to meet April 1 deadline

Machine-readable Passport, Visa
Stopgap measures to meet April 1 deadline
The government is desperately looking for a temporary measure to start producing machine-readable passports and machine-readable visas from April 1, deadline set by the International Civil Aviation Organisation.
However, the temporary measure, whatever it may be, would deal with urgently-needed passports only.
Officials of the home ministry, the department of immigration and passport and Malaysia-based IRIS Corporation Berhad are now meeting regularly and discussing temporary measures to be taken to meet the deadline.
“We will soon find a way to go for production of machine readable passports [MRPs] on April 1 to protect the country’s reputation and its citizens from hassles during international travels,” Project Director Brig Gen Md Refayet Ullah told The Daily Star.
He said bringing in one portable machine capable of producing several hundred MRPs a day is an option. He, however, said nothing has been finalised yet and the temporary measure will deal only with urgently-needed passports.
Sources in the Department of Immigration and Passport said more than 3,000 passports are being issued every day.
The government yesterday signed a contract with the Malaysian firm to implement the Tk 526 crore project in three years. Bangladesh will take over the project in the third year.
Director General of Department of Immigration and Passport Abdul Mabud signed the contract while Chief Operating Officer of IRIS Ronald Saade signed on behalf of his firm.
Home Secretary Abdus Sobhan Sikder, Project Director Refayet and other officials concerned were present at the ceremony held at the Department of Immigration and Passport.
Sources in IRIS said they would start importing machinery, software and booklets for MRP soon. “We need to prepare a huge set up importing hardware and software and ensure the security requirements. We will then have user acceptance testing before going for final production,” an IRIS official told The Daily Star yesterday.
The official said going for full-scale operation of the project now will require another four months, which would put many citizens in trouble.
According to International Civil Aviation Organisation, Bangladesh must start introducing MRPs and machine-readable visas from April 1 to ensure safe and risk-free foreign travel of its citizens.
No manually or hand-written passports that have been issued or renewed after the deadline will be accepted for foreign travel.

Courtesy of The Daily Star