In a major policy shift, police verification may soon be removed from the passport issuance and renewal process, with national identity (NID) cards and birth certificates set to replace it as primary documentation
In a key development for passport issuance procedures, the Home Ministry has proposed removing the requirement for police verification for both new passports and renewals. The decision, which is expected to streamline the process, comes after a meeting held on Tuesday, February 4, at the Secretariat, chaired by Senior Secretary Dr. Nasimul Gani.
According to sources from the Home Ministry, the main documents for passport applications, namely NID cards and birth certificates, will now be considered sufficient for verification. The rationale behind this move is that if these documents are accurate, there should be no need for further verification from police agencies.
The proposal has garnered strong support from various government representatives, with most participants in the meeting agreeing to eliminate police verification. The Security Services Division of the Home Ministry has already begun working on the necessary steps for this change.
An anonymous official revealed that discussions regarding the matter have progressed significantly, and another meeting is scheduled to finalize the recommendations. Once approved by the advisory council, an official order will be issued to implement the changes.
Representatives from several key government bodies attended the meeting, including the Chief Adviser’s Office, the Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Ministry, the Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Ministry, and the Special Branch of Police, among others.
Liberty News’ national affairs correspondent states that, the final decision on this issue is expected soon, as the government moves toward making passport applications more efficient and accessible.
LND/BAIZID
