MRP crisis must be resolved

Due to crisis of machine-readable passports (MRP) many Bangladeshis are not being able to go abroad and it ultimately leaves a bad effect on our economy. The government should look into the matter on a priority basis as the situation is turning from bad to worse. Passport shortage hampers our manpower export and affects our national exchequer. The international civil aviation organization has set deadline on 24 November 2015 after which old passports will not be accepted. Therefore, we only have merely a year in our hand and during this time our old passports will have to be replaced with new machine-readable passports.

But unfortunately we are much behind the schedule. A Malaysian company is responsible for producing the new passports but they are apparently unable to do so with required speed and the government should engage more companies for the job so that we can get our work done in due time. Many Bangladeshi expatriates who are holding old passports are worried about their future. I hope the government will not waste any more time and take prompt action so that our citizens do not have to face the crisis.

Mohammed Sohel Hara

Bono Shree Dhaka

sohelhara@hotmail.com