Govt issues red passport revoke guidelines

The government has issued a policy guideline on revoking and surrendering diplomatic passports and issuance of ordinary ones, report agencies.

A press release of the Security Services Division of the Home Affairs Ministry on Thursday said diplomatic passports received by former prime minister, ex-PM's advisors, ex-cabinet members and all members of the recently dissolved Jatiya Sangsad and their spouses would be revoked immediately.

Diplomatic passports of the officials would also be revoked immediately upon termination of their tenure or appointment.

The release said ordinary passports may be issued in their favour based on the reports of at least two investigating agencies.

On Wednesday night, the government has decided to revoke the diplomatic passports (red passports) issued to former ministers, lawmakers, and other officials, including former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, following the dissolution of the current parliament.

"With no active parliament and no current ministers or MPs, their passports will be cancelled," said Ali Reza Siddiqui, additional secretary (Security and Immigration Division) of the Ministry of Home Affairs, in a statement .

Siddiqui confirmed that verbal instructions have already been issued to the Department of Immigration and Passports (DIP) to implement this decision.