PM Calls Upon The Authorities To Stay Alert Against Harassment Of MRP Seekers

"Passport is a very essential document for going abroad. So I call upon the authorities concerned to remain vigilant so that nobody becomes a victim of harassment in obtaining passport," she said.

The Prime Minister opened the activities of providing MRP in 33 regional passport offices through a videoconferencing from her official Ganobhaban residence here this afternoon.

Through videoconferencing she talked to State Minister for Home Asdaduzzaman Khan Kamal, local lawmakers and leaders of Luxmipur District Awami League and deputy commissioner of the district.

Director of the MRP Project Brigadier General Masud Redwan gave a brief description about the progress of the project.

PM's Principal Secretary Abdus Sobhan Sikdar, Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs Dr. Md Mozammel Haque Khan, PM's Press Secretary AKM Shameem Chowdhury and PM's Special Assistants Dr Abdus Sobhan Golap and Mahbubul Hoque Shakil were present at the function at Ganobhaban.

Highlighting the background of introduction of MRP in Bangladesh, the prime Minister said the modern technologies that her government has taken were once beyond imagination by many.

"We were worried as Bangladesh once lagged behind in introducing the MRP. The reason was that about 80/90 lakh Bangladeshis have been living abroad. Besides, many people used to go abroad every day for different purposes and they faced a lot of trouble to this end," she said.

To remove this barrier, she said, her previous government took different steps and gave responsibility to Bangladesh Army so the people can get MRP in quickest possible time.

About her government's digitalization programme in all spheres, the Prime Minister said her government has made very easy the living style of the people through digitalization.

"The people now get everything by sitting in the houses due to this
digitalization in every sector," she said.

Sheikh Hasina said coordination has already been established between the National ID Card of the Election Commission and the MRP to make the process for providing passport easier.

As a result, she said, providing of MRP would be easy from now on when ID card will be submitted and verified with necessary information from the software of ID cards, she added.

The Prime Minister mentioned that online banking system has also been introduced to deposit fee for MRP and general people can easily deposit passport fees from home through credit card, debit card or mobile banking process.

Sheikh Hasina said her government has been working to advance the country further by upholding the spirit of independence and bring smiles on the faces of the distressed people as it was a dream of the Father of the Nation.

After formation of the government, she said, the aim of our government was to serve the people and work as servants of the people.

She said Bangladesh is a victorious nation which struggled for long 23 years and fought for 9 months in the War of Liberation under the leadership of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

"We will have to move by upholding that spirit and keeping our head high," she said.

Sheikh Hasina said that her government would do whatever necessary so that not a single family remains homeless and landless in the country.

In this regard, she directed the local administration of Luxmipur district to find out homeless and landless people and send the list to the ministry so that proper steps could be taken to solve their problems.

The Prime Minister said the aim of the present government is to fulfill the basic rights of the people and make the nation well-educated equipped with modern, scientific and technical knowledge and skill.

She hoped that Bangladesh would be a developed and prosperous nation by the year 2041.

Of the 33 regional passport offices, officials said, Luxmipur, Madaripur, Shariatpur, Rajbari and Naogaon offices could deliver MRP from now on, while remaining 28 offices would be able to provide such services soon.

-Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS)