IN a shocking revelation, a police investigation has unearthed a distressing case of corruption and abuse of power in the reissuance and reprinting of passports.
This scandal, which came to light after a complaint lodged by Shahidul Islam, a marketing manager of the recruiting agency Al-Samara International, has exposed a network exploiting the vulnerabilities in the passport issuance system, particularly for migrant workers and expatriates in various European countries.
According to a news report published in an English newspaper on Saturday, the modus operandi of this operation involved the submission of fake demi-official letters, purportedly from the Home Minister’s office to regional passport offices.
These letters were used to obtain passports for individuals facing complications in the transition from machine-readable passports to the new e-passports introduced by the government.
The ramifications of this scandal are grave, as it not only tarnishes the integrity of the passport issuance process but also affects the lives of Bangladeshi expatriates and migrant workers abroad.
The fake demi-official letters caused rejections of passport applications, creating undue hardships for individuals who trusted the system to provide them with legitimate travel documents.
The Department of Immigration and Passports, upon discovering the fraudulent activity, took swift action by withholding 67 passports and initiating an investigation.
The Home Minister’s office confirmed that the DO letter and four other passport reissue forms bearing the minister’s sign and seal were indeed fake.
This underscores the need for a thorough overhaul of the passport issuance and verification process to prevent such incidents in the future.
This scandal is not just about the abuse of power; it is about the betrayal of the public’s trust.
The government must take decisive action to rectify the flaws in the system, sending a clear message that corruption and malpractice will not be tolerated.
The rights and aspirations of every citizen, especially those living abroad, depend on the integrity of the institutions designed to serve them.
It is time for a comprehensive and lasting reform to ensure the passport issuance process remains a beacon of trust and accountability.