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KHULNA, Aug 4, 2026 (BSS) – Passport seekers in Khulna have expressed satisfaction over receiving services smoothly and without the involvement of brokers at the Khulna Divisional Passport and Visa Office.

“I received my passport within seven working days, Alhamdulillah. Without the help of any brokers, I completed every step of the procedure myself, starting from the application process. It was a very easy and hassle-free experience. My passport delivery date was August 1, but I received it on Sunday,” said Shakina Begum, a former professor (now on PRL) of Government Brojo Lal College, while talking to BSS.

“This was my appointment date. Everything, from fingerprint collection to the photo shoot, was completed within just 20 minutes that day,” she added.

Another passport recipient, Abul Hashem, a worker from Paikgachha upazila who is scheduled to travel to Saudi Arabia for employment, told BSS, “I was thinking of getting a passport without the help of a broker. But I was afraid that I would have to face many hassles at the passport office. However, to my surprise, I found that I could apply online for an ordinary passport. There was no trouble or unnecessary waiting at any stage of the process.”

“After simple verification of my old passport with the application form, the concerned official asked me to enter a room where my digital photograph and fingerprints were taken. Then I received a receipt mentioning the date of passport collection. What surprised me more was that I received an SMS on my mobile phone the day before the scheduled delivery date, informing me that my passport was ready for collection from the Boyra office,” he said with satisfaction.

“In my opinion, such hassle-free services are unprecedented in present-day Bangladesh. All credit goes to the officers and staff members of the Khulna Divisional Passport Office for creating such an arrangement. We hope all public sector offices will function with the same spirit,” he added.

Officials said regular inception meetings are being held between passport officials and service seekers to raise awareness about receiving services under the Right to Information Act.

Besides, a display board has been installed highlighting passport office services, while awareness campaigns on passport-related services are continuing through television channels operated by local cable operators.

According to passport office data, the number of daily passport applicants was below 100 before March this year. The figure increased to over 225 in April and gradually rose by another 70 to 80 applicants in May and June.

Talking to BSS, Md Abu Sayeed, Director of Khulna Divisional Passport and Visa Office, said on Sunday that passport-related services have already been ensured for service seekers following government directives.

“We have not received any complaints from passport service seekers in recent days as we have ensured a broker-free passport office,” he said.

He added, “We hold a mass hearing every Tuesday regarding complaints. If necessary, we arrange hearings on any other day as well.”

To ensure hassle-free services, the government has taken several initiatives, including displaying the citizen charter in open spaces, introducing mass hearings, implementing an open-door policy, establishing baby feeding corners for women applicants, and collecting opinions and satisfaction feedback from passport seekers.

He, however, said the number of passport applicants is expected to increase to 700 to 750 per day from August.

Talking to BSS, Sadhan Sarker, a small trader and online passport application facilitator at Sir Iqbal Road in the city, said many applicants from different villages come to his shop for assistance in filling out passport forms.

Quoting applicants’ experiences, he said every passport seeker expresses satisfaction after receiving their passports within the stipulated timeframe without facing hassles or requiring brokers’ assistance.

An applicant can receive a regular passport within 21 working days, an emergency passport within 10 working days, and a very urgent passport within two working days.