Dhaka, Bangladesh (CU)_ Bangladesh has advanced its electronic passport programme, which began last year with the support of German technology company Veridos. With the installation of biometric workstations and e-gates, the modernisation project has progressed. Throughout this year, the firm has assisted the country in making the requisite arrangements to increase the local supply chain for ePassports.
Veridos provided Bangladesh’s 70 regional passport offices with the IT tools they needed to launch the new initiative in 2020. At workplaces, biometric enrolment equipment has been built so that passport offices can collect relevant data such as fingerprints and photographs from people. From January 2020, people were able to make online appointments, reducing wait times. The online platform has received nearly half a million applications for the ePassport programme.
The new development and personalisation centre for the documents, which is located in Dhaka, was completed last year. The centre has a capacity to make 25,000 passports a day and is equipped with latest personalization machines. Veridos has built 15 e-gates at airports in the regions and has planned to install additional 35 e-gates this year.
Saidur Rahman Khan, project director at the Department of Immigration said, “We are delighted to be offering our citizens not only one of the most modern and secure ePassports in the world, but also to make the application process as fast and user-friendly as possible. On average, 7,500 people enrol their biometric information every day and this is just the start. We are looking forward to continuing the implementation of the professional project together with Veridos and deepening the trustful collaboration with our valued partner”.
This year’s plans include the distribution of enrolment packages, which include notebooks and biometric capturing devices that will enable officials to collect data on people residing in rural areas. In 2018, Veridos and the People’s Republic of Bangladesh’s Department of Immigration and Passports signed a £293 million deal for the introduction of ePassports.
