Expatriates’ passport applications to be processed within 60 days

The High Court has directed authorities to expedite the processing of expatriates’ applications for new passports and passport renewals.

A bench comprising Justice Md Habibul Gani and Justice Syed Mohammad Tajrul Hossain passed the order on Sunday (August 2).

The order came following a writ petition filed by Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB) in the public interest, after media reports alleged that expatriates had been waiting for prolonged periods to obtain new passports or renew existing ones.

Following the hearing, the court directed the authorities to dispose of pending applications for new passports and renewals within 60 days and submit a progress report within 90 days, said lawyer Manzil Morshed.

The High Court also issued a four-week rule asking why the authorities’ inaction in promptly processing expatriates’ passport applications should not be declared illegal and why an order should not be issued directing the authorities to expedite the process.

Advocates Mohammad Sarwar Ahad Chowdhury, Ripon Baroi and Mahbubul Islam represented HRPB in the writ petition.

The respondents include the Cabinet, the Secretary of the Prime Minister’s Office, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, the Law Secretary and the Director General of the Passport Office, among 14 respondents.

Manzil Morshed said the court, in an interim order, directed the passport authorities to settle all pending passport renewal applications of expatriates within 60 days.

In another order, the court directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to instruct the country’s high commissions and embassies to forward expatriates’ applications for new passports or renewals to the passport office for speedy processing.

The ministry has been asked to submit a progress report to the court within 30 days.