Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan has said the government will review the issue of reintroducing machine readable passports (MRPs) for Bangladeshi citizens in the US for a certain period alongside the existing e-passports.

He was speaking at an interactive session with officers of Bangladesh Embassy in Washington DC on Friday afternoon (US time).

The home minister is now leading a Bangladesh delegation to the United States to join the third United Nations Chief of Police Summit (UNCOPS) and other programs.

He also said e-visa will be introduced soon, according to the Bangladesh Mission in Washington.

“We are going to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) very soon and we hope to be able to start issuing e-visa within six months from that,” he said.

Asaduzzaman Khan said the distribution of National Identity (NID) cards has been handed over to the Home Ministry at the directives of the Prime Minister so that all citizens of the country can avail the facilities.

Also read: Home Minister, IGP in NY to join UNCOPS

The ministry will start work in full swing on the project, and will also undertake a plan so that the expatriates can get NID cards from Bangladesh missions abroad, he mentioned.

Chargé d'affaires of the Embassy Md Mahadee Hassan delivered welcome remarks. Minister (Consular) Mohammad Habibur Rahman and Defence Attaché Brig Gen Md Shahedul Islam also spoke at the event.

First Secretary (Passport and Visa) Muhammad Abdul Hye Milton made a presentation on overall consular activities, including passport and visa, challenges and possible steps.

Earlier, the home minister paid homage to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman by placing a wreath at the bust of the Father of the Nation at Bangabandhu Corner of the Embassy.

He also visited a photo exhibition on Bangabandhu arranged by the Embassy on the occasion of the National Mourning Day and 47th martyrdom anniversary of the Father of the Nation.