DHAKA: The passengers of flight RX-786 returning from Bangkok on Thursday evening (January 21) were standing in front of immigration booth at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka.

As many as 120 passengers had MRP (Machine Readable Passport) and immigration form filled in own hand but one passenger was carrying a hand-written passport.

The hand-written passport holder, when asked, informed the immigration official that he has applied for MRP and then the person was released after showing copy of the application form.

However, the immigration official told them that in future no MRP, no entry.

Moreover, passengers are being faced query of the Armed Police Battalion (APBN) outside the International Terminal whether they possess MRP and then permitted to get entry.

Airport authorities said that the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) put embargo on last November 24 on foreign trips without MRP. Bangladesh also implemented the restriction on that day.

Earlier, tourism and civil aviation ministry made wide publicity to convert the hand-written passport into digital one.

However, the persons, who have applied for MRPs are getting some concessions.

APBN senior assistant police super (ASP) Alamgir Hossain Shimul told banglanews that this rule of using MRP is applicable to all including the foreigners.

If the MRP is not checked here, Bangladeshis are sent back to home from the airports of their destination.

On the other hand, recently a couple could not enter Bangladesh though reached the airport. They had to go back to home, as they had no MRP.

He further said that none is allowed to enter the international terminal without MRP.

According to ICAO agreement, Bangladesh started issuing MRP from 2010. The project was launched at an estimated cost of Tk 526.24 crore.

BDST: 1314 HRS, JAN 23, 2016
Shahjahan/RS/RR