Passport seekers across Bangladesh continue facing severe difficulties despite removal of police verification requirement. Applicants report complications over National Identity Card information, document mismatches, and allegations that applications without broker involvement get rejected on flimsy grounds.

The allegations came to light following the publication of a report on Wednesday by multimedia journalist Soheli Jahan.

Since police verification ended, process should have simplified. However, delays in NID verification and document checks have created new problems. Lakshmipur applicants say Election Commission system failures prevent completion despite having correct information matching certificates and parents' NIDs.

Meherpur applicants must collect verified NID copies from Election Commission offices, causing extra hassle. Officers reportedly point out unnecessary mistakes and delay proceedings. One applicant paid TK 300 for verified copy at Election Office, but faced repeated rejections. Finally paid TK 1,200 at computer shop connected to brokers for resolution.

Md. Sorbesh Ali, assistant director, regional passport office, Meherpur claims that applicants go to election office only for proper verification. Waliul Islam, assistant director, regional passport office, Kishoreganj

acknowledges that system would improve if passport authorities could directly check NID data using official seals instead of sending people elsewhere.

Kishoreganj and Tangail see applications without brokers frequently rejected despite correct documentation. Applicants say proper papers with supporting documents should suffice, but rejection forces them to pay brokers several thousand taka. Same applications get approved smoothly when handled through middlemen.

Journalist Rajibul Haque from Meherpur explained passport authorities already access national database and can verify NIDs easily. Yet applicants must obtain verified copies for TK 230-300. Some brokers, staff members, and Ansar personnel allegedly work together creating difficulties.

Small application errors become excuses to send people to outside shops linked to brokers. After days of struggle, applicants eventually pay TK 1,000-2,000 for ‘resolution’. Designated middlemen operate from computer shops connected to passport offices even in rural areas.

Meherpur passport office opened after 2016 to reduce travel to Kushtia or Jashore, but harassment continues.

Source: Independent Television.