Staff Reporter:The Department of Immigration and Passports (DIP) suspended electronic and machine-readable passport (MRP) operations on Monday, as a precautionary measure to contain the spread of COVID-19.
However, MRP renewals will continue, in case there is no change in information.
Major General Shakil Ahmed, director general of DIP said to journalists that, they have suspended the operations for e-passport and MRP until further notice, considering the health risk and spread of the coronavirus.
Brig Gen Saidur Rahman Khan, e-passport project director, said they have to take biometrics and retina scans for the e-passport application process.
He said, “This is risky as the virus can spread while giving finger prints on the machine reader; the operators also assist the applicants by touching their hands to complete the procedure.”
