Lisbon, Wednesday, 12 July 2023:

Bangladesh Embassy in Lisbon has launched the E-passport facilities today (Wednesday, 12 July 2023) with due festivity and fervour. In the morning, the Secretary of the Security Services Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs of Bangladesh Mr.  Md. Abdullah Al Masud Chowdhury and Chargé d'affaires of the Embassy of Bangladesh Mr. Md. Alamgeer Hossain formally inaugurated the E-passport facilities at the Chancery through a simple ceremony. Mr. Mohd Ahsan Kibria Siddiqui, Director General of the Prime Minister’s Office, Mr. Abdullah Al Mamun, Director of the Department of Immigration and Passports, technical officials of the “Implementation of E-Passport and Automated Border Control Management Project”, members of the Bangladesh community, officials of the Embassy, journalists and media activists also attended the ceremony.

At the outset, Mr.  Md. Abdullah Al Masud Chowdhury, Secretary of Security Services Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs, spoke as the Chief Guest at the auditorium of the Chancery. Members of the Bangladesh expatriate community and officials of the Department of Immigration and Passports also spoke at the opening ceremony. Thereafter, the Secretary of the Security and Services Division handed over the enrollment slips of e-passport to some of the applicants.

During his speech, Mr.  Md. Abdullah Al Masud Chowdhury paid profound gratitude to the Hon’ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for making Bangladesh a digital Bangladesh. He also said that, under the visionary leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh is marching ahead to become a “Smart Bangladesh”. He further said that introduction of E-passport facilities both in Bangladesh and at Bangladesh Missions abroad is the reflection of the commitment of Hon’ble Prime Minister to make Bangladesh a developed country. He also said that many developed countries of the world are yet to implement E-passport and that Bangladesh is the first among South Asian countries to introduce E-passport. He further commented that introduction of E-passport will not only make the travel and immigration easier but will also enhance the image of Bangladesh abroad. The Secretary also mentioned that the Government will introduce E-passport facilities at all the Bangladesh Mission abroad gradually. He urged all to work and contribute from their respective position to making Bangladesh a prosperous and developed country.

The Chargé d'affaires of the Embassy of Bangladesh Mr. Md. Alamgeer Hossain thanked the Hon’ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the leadership of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Home Affairs of Bangladesh for implementing the E-passport facility at the Bangladesh Embassy in Lisbon. He viewed that this would fulfil a long-felt need of the expatriate Bangladeshis in Portugal and promote expeditious regularization of stay of newly-arrived Bangladeshis in Portugal.

Later, the Secretary and other officials visited the Chancery and exchanged views with the service seekers.