Brunei Darussalam – The government of Bangladesh has introduced a state-of-the-art e-passport service at the Bangladesh High Commission in Brunei Darussalam, marking a significant milestone in enhancing travel for its citizens and bolstering the automated border control management system.
The inauguration of this groundbreaking e-passport service was celebrated at the premises of the Bangladesh High Commission, with Md Saiful Islam, Additional Secretary of the Security Services Division at the Ministry of Home Affairs of Bangladesh, presiding as the chief guest. The ceremony witnessed the presence of representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Immigration and National Registration Department of Brunei Darussalam alongside Bangladeshi nationals.
In his address, Md Saiful Islam emphasized the importance of this technological advancement, tracing the history of Bangladesh passports and highlighting the transformative impact of e-passports on national travel infrastructure and data security.
“We are excited to introduce the e-Passport Services, a pivotal step in modernizing our nation’s travel infrastructure and securing national data,” he remarked. He also noted that this launch in Brunei marked the 33rd such introduction globally, with 32 other countries, including Italy and Lebanon, having previously implemented e-passport services.
Md Saiful Islam underscored the significance of a user-friendly passport and immigration system for the Bangladeshi community, which contributes significantly to economic earnings and remittances worldwide.
The High Commissioner of Bangladesh to Brunei Darussalam and program chairperson, Nahida Rahman Shumona, acknowledged the Bangladesh government’s initiative in providing the e-passport service to the Bangladeshi community in Brunei. She expressed gratitude for the introduction of this service, which is set to greatly benefit the Bangladeshi population in the country.
During the ceremony, five Bangladeshi nationals were presented with the delivery slips for the newly introduced e-passports.
This progressive e-passport Service is part of the ‘Implementation of e-passport and automated border control management in Bangladesh’ project, spearheaded by the Security Services Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs of Bangladesh. It reflects Bangladesh’s commitment to modernizing travel infrastructure and ensuring efficient and secure travel for its citizens.
The launch of the e-passport service is expected to significantly streamline travel procedures for Bangladeshi nationals in Brunei and further strengthen the bilateral relationship between the two nations.