Dr. Md Asadul Islam :
COVID-19 has changed operational processes in almost every organisation regardless of their public and private status! As a result, some organisations have already been collapsed, while some are sustaining and providing good services due to their operational efficiency. However, government organisations at home and abroad are being criticized due to their inefficiency and slower services during the pandemic. Furthermore, the supply chain management of every organisation has been seriously affected due to the COVID-19 lockdown measurements everywhere. Therefore, the delivery of many products and services has been interrupted, delayed and sometimes cancelled. This interruption has a severe impact on the mental and physical conditions of people worldwide specially the expatriates living in different countries to earn money. The Bangladeshi citizens living abroad normally work in different harsh conditions, therefore, it is tough for many of them to reach their embassies for various services. It is also similar in the case of Bangladeshi nationals in Malaysia, where most of them are workers and students. Many Bangladeshis in Malaysia are facing similar problems to avail embassy services during the lockdown or tight movement control order (MCO) imposed by the Malaysian Government.
However, difficulties in renewing passports have been reduced due to the excellent initiative by the Bangladesh High Commission, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Now, the Bangladeshis living in various corners of Malaysia do not need to go to the Bangladesh High Commission, Kuala Lumpur, physically to submit the passport renewal application and get the new passport. This is just a miracle to many workers, students and other professionals and their families who have to travel from long distances facing many hassles due to the lockdown measurements across Malaysia and dalal as well.
Now, the Bangladesh High Commission, Kuala Lumpur, receives passport applications through the Postal Service and delivers the new passports to the applicants’ door!
After sending all the required documents such as passport photocopy, fees payment slip, photocopy of visa (not required if not available) to the Bangladesh High Commission using postal service ( Post Lazu, a localpostal delivery service of Malaysian), the passport applicant would be able to check the delivery status of the application through post laju’s website. The applicant will also get a delivery slip number ( MYS number) / enrolment ID, which can be used to track the application status by using this new website (https://www.appointment.bdhckl.gov.bd/). When the passport reaches the High Commission, the website will show that the passport has arrived at the High Commission and is now ready for delivery. Most interestingly, the passport applicant now would able to decide where to get the passport delivered to him or her rather than going physically to the Bangladesh High Commission, Kuala Lumpur! As a result, there are no hassles or tensions of getting the passport in the door. Even any kind of passport information and progress can check through online at www.passport.gov.bd. This means the whole system is digital and can check by own mobile phone as well.
This is really interesting and service-oriented based on digitalization, which has been developed remarkably in Bangladesh during the current Government. The advantages of the technological revolution in the country are enjoyed by its citizens everywhere globally, including Malaysia. However, this is not the end, this is the start of something really beneficial for every Bangladeshis during this COVID-19 pandemic when many embassy employees have been infected, and one of them died as well. The postal and online delivery system has also reduced the threat of COVID-19 infections to the passport applicants and other associated people in the journey and different procedures. Moreover, this process is also less time-consuming and beneficial for the applicants as well as expatriates, who are mostly misled and cheated by the dishonest so-called brokers.
However, many Bangladeshis in Malaysia are not aware of this new and straightforward service. In this regard, reaching all of them regarding this outstanding service is not easy for Bangladesh High Commission. Though it has its own Facebook Page and website but it is not enough. Therefore, the mission should take some initiatives so that the potential users, especially those who need to renew their passports in the near future, can know about this online service. Continuous sponsored advertisements using Facebook, YouTube and other social media platforms targeting/specifying only Bangladeshi Nationals in Malaysia can be effective to let them know regarding this service. Moreover, the embassy should have the facility of electronic money transfer so that the journey to banks by the applicants can be relieved. Furthermore, the mission should include other postal or couriers such as DHL, FedEx, etc., so that applicants can get the passport from nearby where Post Lazu is not available.
Furthermore, Bangladesh High Commission in Malaysia should have a mass advertisement in various media (online radio, news, newspapers) regarding this outstanding online passport delivery service, including all the Bangladeshi people living in Malaysia. Moreover, Bangladeshi and Malaysian TV Stars, Local Employers and students, lecturers, professors could also be included. As a result, everyone from Bangladesh in Malaysia would be able to know about this service that will reduce the trend of becoming illegal due to passport renewal problems. Many expatriates become illegal when they cannot renew their passports on time.
Finally, as we are the citizen of Bangladesh, we have some obligations specially we should notify others about this dynamic services. If we Bangladeshi passport holders inform the high commission about our contact details in Malaysia, such as phone numbers, email addresses, the embassy can quickly notify us through these contact modes regarding different updated services. I strongly believe if the recommendations are implemented quickly, this online passport delivery service will benefit every Bangladeshi national living in Malaysia.
(Dr. Asadul teaches in Swinburne University of Technology, Malaysia. Email: [email protected])
