Bangladesh starts its Transition to ePassports

Bangladesh is starting its transition to ePassports as the Department of Immigration and Passports is set to open a personalisation and issuance centre in Dhaka on January 22, 2020.

Citizens can now apply for an ePassport.

German company Veridos provides the technology for the setup and execution of the new travel documents.

Veridos is the leading provider of integrated identity solutions and governments in over 100 countries trust the company’s comprehensive product portfolio.

The company’s operations range from paper to security printing, electrical chip components, enrollment, identity management systems, personalisation and issuance, mobile ID solutions, and border control solutions including eGates.

The opening of Dhaka’s centre marks an important milestone in the country’s transition to the latest generation of electronic travel documents.

The ePassports are part of a comprehensive project that includes the supply, installation and implementation of next-generation ePassports.

It also includes a state-of-the-art border control infrastructure.

The ePassport is made of polycarbonate and its data pages are equipped with a chip and Veridos’ colour personalisation technology, CLIP ID.

This will allow the holder’s photograph to be reproduced with maximum colour intensity and will make visual checks significantly easier.

The ePassports are International Civil Aviation Organisation-compliant (ICAO). This lets citizens travel safely and in comfort.

Bangladesh Prime Minister will be the country’s first recipient of an ePassport. She will be presented with it at the launch ceremony in Dhaka on January 22.

Veridos CEO Andreas Räschmeier said:

“We are very happy with the opening of the new personalisation and issuance centre in Dhaka.”

“Our joint modernisation project has reached a significant milestone in a comprehensive project covering the entire value-chain of ePassports enabling Bangladeshi citizens to travel more easily and safely, with the additional benefit of more efficient border controls.

“As it progresses, Bangladesh will issue the largest number of passports with colour image in the world and its citizens will own one of the most modern and secure ePassports.”

In 2018, Veridos and the Department of Immigration and Passports of Bangladesh signed a far-reaching contract.

Under the partnership, Veridos ensured that electronic passports would be provided as well as 50 eGates for all international airports and land border crossings in Bangladesh.

The order has a 12-year term and a volume of approximately €340 million (£289 million).

The partnership is set to create a large number of highly qualified jobs in Bangladesh. It will result in an extensive know-how transfer for a strong economy.