DHAKA, Jan 6, (V7N) –According to Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury foreign nationals staying illegally in Bangladesh have been urged to obtain valid visas by January 31, or legal action will be taken against them.
Those without valid visas will be deported to their home countries, he said during a visit to the Department of Passports on Monday.
The adviser mentioned that many foreigners in the country lack valid visas, with some even being employed.
He emphasized that those failing to regularize their status within the deadline would face legal consequences.
Highlighting the role of the Department of Passports as a service-oriented institution, the adviser discussed measures to further improve service quality.
He noted that corruption within the department has significantly reduced under the current Director General but stressed the need for further reduction.
“People still face difficulties in obtaining passports and discussions were held on how to address these challenges effectively,” he added.
On allegations of Rohingya refugees obtaining Bangladeshi passports and engaging in illegal activities abroad, the adviser explained that police verification for passport issuance could not yet be removed, despite its potential to reduce delays and harassment.
“If future evaluations show that issuing passports based solely on ID cards is feasible, we might consider removing police verification,” he noted.
Regarding expatriates facing delays in receiving Machine-Readable Passports (MRPs), the adviser clarified that while MRPs have been sent from Bangladesh, they are yet to be delivered.
The Director General of Passports is addressing this issue and steps are being taken to ensure prompt distribution.
END/MSS/AJ
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