Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman. File photo

SANGSAD BHABAN, Sept 10, 2026 (BSS) - Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman today said the government has attached the highest priority to making passport and National Identity Card (NID) services for expatriate Bangladeshis faster, easier, more transparent and technology-based.

He said this while replying to a starred question from ruling party lawmaker from Sylhet-3 constituency Mohammad Abdul Malik in the Jatiya Sangsad.

The foreign minister said online application, biometric enrolment at a convenient time and application-status tracking facilities are available at Bangladesh missions where e-passport services have already been introduced.

He said although Bangladesh missions receive passport applications, the Department of Immigration and Passports in Dhaka issues the passports. “Therefore, the missions maintain regular coordination with the department to ensure delivery at the earliest possible time.”

Applicants receive SMS or email notifications once their passports are ready for delivery, he added.

Dr Khalilur said voter registration and NID issuance services have so far been introduced through 27 Bangladesh missions in 17 countries.

Although the missions receive NID applications, the Election Commission issues the NIDs, he said.

The foreign minister said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is working with the Election Commission to gradually expand voter registration and NID services to 41 countries.

He said the government has adopted short-, medium- and long-term plans to resolve passport-related problems faced by expatriate Bangladeshis, particularly those living in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Under a short-term special programme, or crash programme, technically skilled teams will be sent from Dhaka to Bangladesh missions in Saudi Arabia and the UAE to resolve passport-related problems, he said.

The minister also said the government has introduced online attestation and e-Apostille services to simplify consular services.

Service seekers can now apply online and receive digital certificates, which has significantly reduced the time, expenses and hassle involved, he added.

He said the government has taken an initiative under the action plan for the 2026-27 fiscal year to establish an online system, in coordination with relevant agencies, to facilitate verification of information related to passports, visas, and birth and death registration certificates.

Besides, an online Grievance Redress System remains operational at every Bangladesh mission, he said.

The government also plans to strengthen the system by appointing designated officials to handle complaints, ensuring their speedy resolution and providing prompt responses to service recipients’ queries, the foreign minister added.