Govt to cut passport fees for expatriates: Home Adviser

Home Affairs Adviser Lieutenant General (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury announced on Monday that the government is set to reduce passport issuance fees for Bangladeshi expatriates worldwide.

Speaking after a meeting of the core committee on law and order at the Secretariat, the adviser said the move aims to recognise the contribution of expatriate Bangladeshis, whom he described as “remittance warriors.”

“We always call them remittance warriors, but they often do not receive the respect they deserve. In many places, the service is not satisfactory,” Jahangir Alam said, adding that the government plans to eliminate additional charges imposed on expatriates and standardise passport fees across all countries.

He noted that the reduction would be implemented globally, with fees adjusted based on local conditions. “There isn’t just one country—there are many. We will assess the situation and reduce fees accordingly,” he explained.

The adviser also said that efforts are underway to enhance the travel experience of expatriates, including improving services on flights and at airports upon arrival.

Jahangir Alam made the remarks after returning from official visits to Qatar and Italy, where he met with members of the Bangladeshi diaspora.