Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to launch e-passport services at a programme at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) on Wednesday.

Department of Immigration and Passports (DIP) will initially distribute e-passports from Agargaon, Jatrabari and Uttara offices, its Director General Maj Gen Shakil Ahmed had told UNB.

E-passport will be rolled out later across the country in phases.

German company Veridos GmbH has been working on e-passport and e-gate in the country, he said.

According to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), there are more than 100 states and non-state entities (i.e. the United Nations) currently issuing e-passports. More than 490 million e-passports are in circulation.

E-passports add a layer of security to traditional non electronic passports by embedding an electronic chip in the passport booklet that stores the biographical information visible on page 2 of the passport, as well as a digital security feature.

The digital security feature is a country specific "digital signature." These digital signatures are unique to each country and can be verified using their respective certificates.

According to the project details, the project “Introduction of Bangladesh e-Passport and Automatic Border Control Management” is being implemented at a cost of Tk 4,569 crore.

The DIP is implementing the project with full government funding. A total of 30 million passports will be delivered in 10 years.

With the issuance of the e-passport the whole process of the immigration formalities will be completed through online.