Dhaka, Dec 11 (V7N) – Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Adviser Asif Nazrul announced on Wednesday that the issuance of machine-readable passports (MRPs) for expatriates will begin on Sunday.

In a video message posted on Facebook, Nazrul acknowledged the challenges faced by expatriates regarding passport issuance, saying, "Starting December 15, expatriates will begin receiving MRPs. Those who have applied can expect to get their passports within three to four weeks."

He further explained that the initial focus would be on expats in Saudi Arabia and Malaysia, with other high-demand countries following suit. Nazrul assured that this issue would be resolved for all expatriates within three to four weeks.

The adviser also noted that a large number of MRPs are being printed to prevent such delays in the future, promising to resolve these issues for the next two to three years.

Nazrul expressed regret for the difficulties caused, attributing the delays to the previous government. "This issue arose during the tenure of the previous fascist regime. The former minister tried to irregularly award the passport printing contract to a familiar company, leading to an 18-month delay in the registration and tendering process," he said. He apologized for the inconvenience and assured expatriates that they would begin receiving their passports from December 15.

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