Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada

1. Overview

The Bangladesh Passport Order, 1973, provides the following:

3. No person shall depart or attempt to depart from Bangladesh unless he holds a valid passport or travel document.

…

6. Subject to the provisions of this Order, the passport authority-

(1) may refuse to issue a passport or travel document on any one or more of the following grounds-

1. that the applicant is not a citizen of Bangladesh;
2. that the applicant was convicted under the Bangladesh Collaborators (Special Tribunal) Order, 1972 (P.O. No. 8 of 1972);
3. that the applicant has, at any time during the period of five years immediately preceding the date of his application, been convicted by a court in Bangladesh for any offence involving moral turpitude, and sentenced in respect thereof to imprisonment for not less than two years;
4. that the applicant was convicted or is reasonably suspected of smuggling of currency, drugs, arms, trafficking in women and slaves, foreign currency, passports or of indulging in illegal dealings involving foreign exchange, trade or commerce;
5. that the applicant is evading or likely to evade appearance in any pending proceedings against him in a criminal court in Bangladesh or that an order prohibiting the departure from Bangladesh of the applicant has been made by any such court;
6. that the applicant was previously deported from abroad on account of his undesirable activity;
7. that the applicant has been repatriated and has not reimbursed the expenditure incurred in connection with such repatriation;
8. that the applicant is likely to become destitute and his repatriation would be a charge on public funds;
9. that the application has been made for a minor, suspected of being taken out of Bangladesh against an order of the court or against the wishes of the legal guardian;
10. that the applicant is suffering from such mental or physical deficiency which renders him incapable of taking care of himself unless accompanied by legal guardian or an authorised person; and

(2) shall refuse to issue a passport or travel document on any one or more of the following grounds-

1. that the applicant, in the opinion of the Government, is likely to engage outside Bangladesh in activities prejudicial to the sovereignty, integrity or security of Bangladesh;
2. that the applicant, in the opinion of the Government, is reasonably suspected of evading or attempting to evade the duty to render any service which, under any law, he is required to render in the public interest;
3. that the issue of a passport or travel document to the applicant, in the opinion of the Government, will not be in the public interest.

7. (1) The passport authority may vary or cancel the endorsement on a passport or travel document or the conditions, other than the prescribed conditions, subject to which a passport or travel document is issued and may, for that purpose, require the holder of a passport or travel document, by notice in writing, to deliver up such passport or travel document to it within such time as may be specified in such notice.

… (Bangladesh 1973)

2. Content, Appearance and Security Features of the Different Types of Passport

The US Department of State's Reciprocity Schedule for Bangladesh indicates that there are 3 types of passport in Bangladesh: regular, diplomatic, and official (US n.d.). The Daily Star, an English-language newspaper in Bangladesh, states that government officials are issued blue passports, lawmakers and diplomats receive red passports, and all other individuals are issued green passports (2024-06-25).

2.1. Ordinary Passport

2.1.1. Ordinary Handwritten Passport

The EU's Public Register of Authentic Travel and Identity Documents Online (PRADO) indicates that the handwritten passport was first issued in 1996 (EU 2021-07-01a). United News of Bangladesh (UNB), a digital private-sector wire service based in Bangladesh (UNB n.d.), reports that handwritten passports ceased to be issued in 2010 (2023-01-08). According to sources, Bangladeshi authorities announced that handwritten passports would no longer be valid as of November 2015 (Dhaka Tribune 2015-07-29; US 2015-04-29).

2.1.2. Ordinary Passport Model Launched in 2010

Sources report that the government of Bangladesh introduced the machine-readable passport (MRP) in 2010 (bdnews24.com 2010-03-29; UNB 2010-06-02; Bangladesh n.d.a).

A sample of an ordinary passport model first issued in 2010 is available on PRADO's website (EU 2021-07-01b). The same sample is also available in the Electronic Document Information System on Network (EdisonTD) [1] database (EdisonTD n.d.a).

These sources describe this passport as follows:

• Cover design: green (EU 2021-07-01b; EdisonTD n.d.a) with gold print (EdisonTD n.d.a) or "hot foil stamping" (EU 2021-07-01b).
• Cover material: plastic (EU 2021-07-01b) or linen-covered paper (EdisonTD n.d.a).
• Binding: sewn with a single white thread (EdisonTD n.d.a).
• Dimensions: 88 mm by 125 mm (EU 2021-07-01b).
• Number of pages: 48 (EU 2021-07-01b; EdisonTD n.d.a).
• Validity: 5 years, no extension possible (EU 2021-07-01b).
• Security features, including
  
  • Features visible under ultraviolet (UV) light (EdisonTD n.d.a; EU 2021-07-01b).
  • A watermark on pages 2–48 (EU 2021-07-01b; EdisonTD n.d.a) depicting the country's coat of arms on the identity page and a tiger's head and the page number on the remaining pages (EdisonTD n.d.a).
    
    

The same sources describe the identity page as follows:

• Passport holder's photograph: in colour (EdisonTD n.d.a; EU 2021-07-01b) and measuring 44 mm by 33 mm (EdisonTD n.d.a).
• Text: machine written with black font (EdisonTD n.d.a).
• Security features:
  
  • optically variable devices (OVDs) [2] (EdisonTD n.d.a; EU 2021-07-01b).
  • "gloss[y]" laminate (EdisonTD n.d.a).
  • UV features (EU 2021-07-01b; EdisonTD n.d.a).
    
    

2.1.3. Ordinary Passport Model Launched in 2013

PRADO also provides a redacted sample for another passport model which it states was first issued in 2013 (EU 2021-07-01c). A sample of a similar [3] passport is available on the EdisonTD database (n.d.b). The remainder of this section summarizes the descriptions of these samples provided by PRADO and EdisonTD.

These sources describe the passport as follows:

• Cover design: green (EU 2021-07-01c; EdisonTD n.d.b) with gold print (EdisonTD n.d.b) or "hot foil stamping" (EU 2021-07-01c).
• Cover material: plastic (EU 2021-07-01c) or paper coated in a "[s]ynthetic/[p]olymer" material (EdisonTD n.d.b).
• Binding: sewn with a single white thread (EdisonTD n.d.b).
• Dimensions: 88 mm by 125 mm (EU 2021-07-01c; EdisonTD n.d.b).
• Number of pages: 48 (EU 2021-07-01c; EdisonTD n.d.b).
• Validity: 5 years, no possibility of extension (EU 2021-07-01c).
• Security features, including
  
  • UV features (EU 2021-07-01c).
  • A watermark on pages 2–48 (EU 2021-07-01c) or pages 1–48 with a different watermark on the identity page (EdisonTD n.d.b).
    
    

The same sources describe the identity page as follows:

• Passport holder's photograph: in colour (EdisonTD n.d.b; EU 2021-07-01c).
• Text: machine written with black font (EdisonTD n.d.b).
• Security features:
  
  • OVDs (EdisonTD n.d.b; EU 2021-07-01c).
  • laminate (EdisonTD n.d.b; EU 2021-07-01c).
  • UV features (EU 2021-07-01c; EdisonTD n.d.b).
  • secure printing technique ("guilloches / fine line patterns") (EU 2021-07-01c).
    
    

2.1.4. Ordinary Electronic Passport (E-Passport)

Sources report that Bangladesh introduced e-passports at the beginning of 2020 (The Business Standard 2021-03-14; Dhaka Tribune 2020-01-22). A sample passport available through both EdisonTD and PRADO displays the biometric symbol at the bottom of the green cover page and lists a date of issue in November 2019 (EU 2022-04-19; EdisonTD n.d.c).

Sources describe the e-passport as follows:

• Cover design: green (EU 2022-04-19; EdisonTD n.d.c) with gold foil embossing (EU 2022-04-19).
• Cover material: "[s]ynthetic/[p]olymer" (EdisonTD n.d.c).
• Binding: sewn with triple-colour (green, white and red) thread using interlock stitching (EdisonTD n.d.c).
• Dimensions: 88 mm by 125 mm (EU 2022-04-19; EdisonTD n.d.c).
• Number of pages: 48 or 64 (Bangladesh n.d.b).
• Validity: 5 years for children and 10 years for adults (Bangladesh n.d.c).
• Security features:
  
  • a watermark on pages 2–48 (EdisonTD n.d.c).
  • UV features (EU 2022-04-19).
    
    

Sources describe the e-passport's identity page as follows:

• Passport holder's photograph: in colour (EdisonTD n.d.c).
• Text: machine written in "[g]rayscale" (EdisonTD n.d.c).
• Security features:
  
  • "[r]elief/[e]mbossing" over the image of the bearer (EdisonTD n.d.c).
  • "[s]ynthetic/[p]olymer" substrate (EdisonTD n.d.c).
  • UV features (EdisonTD n.d.c; EU 2022-04-19).
    
    

2.2. Diplomatic Passport

2.2.1. Diplomatic Passport Model Launched in 2010

A sample of a diplomatic passport issued in 2010 is available on PRADO's website (EU 2021-07-01d) and in the EdisonTD database (EdisonTD n.d.d).

These sources describe the passport as follows:

• Cover design: red (EU 2021-07-01d; EdisonTD n.d.d) with gold print (EdisonTD n.d.d) or hot foil stamping (EU 2021-07-01d).
• Cover material: plastic (EU 2021-07-01d) or linen-covered paper (EdisonTD n.d.d).
• Binding: sewn with single white thread (EdisonTD n.d.d).
• Dimensions: 88 mm by 125 mm (EU 2021-07-01d).
• Number of pages: 48 (EdisonTD n.d.d; EU 2021-07-01d).
• Validity: 5 years (EdisonTD n.d.d; EU 2021-07-01d), no extension possible (EU 2021-07-01d).
• Security features:
  
  • a watermark on pages 2–48 (EU 2021-07-01d; EdisonTD n.d.d) depicting the country's coat of arms on the identity page and a tiger's head and the page number on the remaining pages (EdisonTD n.d.d).
  • UV features (EU 2021-07-01d; EdisonTD n.d.d).
    
    

The same sources describe the identity page as follows:

• Passport holder's photograph: in colour (EdisonTD n.d.d; EU 2021-07-01d) and measuring 44 mm by 33 mm (EdisonTD n.d.d).
• Text: machine written with black font (EdisonTD n.d.d).
• Security features:
  
  • OVDs (EdisonTD n.d.d; EU 2021-07-01d).
  • laminate (EdisonTD n.d.d; EU 2021-07-01d).
  • UV features (EU 2021-07-01d; EdisonTD n.d.d).
    
    

2.2.2. Diplomatic E-Passport

A sample of a diplomatic passport, which bears the biometric symbol at the bottom of the front cover and was issued in November 2019, is available in the EdisonTD database (n.d.e).

EdisonTD describes the passport as follows:

• Cover design: red with rounded corners.
• Cover material: linen and a "[s]ynthetic/[p]olymer" material.
• Binding: sewn with triple-colour (green, white and red) thread.
• Dimensions: 88 mm by 125 mm.
• Number of pages: 64.
• Validity: 10 years for individuals between 18 and 55 years old, and 5 years for those under 18 or over 55.
• Security features, including
  
  • a watermark on all inner pages (n.d.e).
    
    

The same source describes the identity page as follows:

• Passport holder's photograph: in colour.
• Text: machine written with black font.
• Security features:
  
  • bearer's signature.
  • polycarbonate substrate.
  • UV features (EdisonTD n.d.e).
    
    

2.3. Official Passport

2.3.1. Official Passport Launched in 2010

A sample of the official passport model first issued in 2010 is available on PRADO's website (EU 2021-07-01e). The same sample is also available in the EdisonTD database (n.d.f).

These sources describe the passport as follows:

• Cover design: blue with hot foil stamping (EU 2021-07-01e) or dark blue with gold-coloured print (EdisonTD n.d.f).
• Cover material: plastic (EU 2021-07-01e) or linen-covered paper (EdisonTD n.d.f).
• Binding: sewn with a single white thread (EdisonTD n.d.f).
• Dimensions: 88 mm by 125 mm (EU 2021-07-01e).
• Number of pages: 48 (EU 2021-07-01e).
• Validity: 5 years (EU 2021-07-01e; EdisonTD n.d.f) with no possibility of extension (EU 2021-07-01e).
• Security features:
  
  • a watermark on pages 2–48 (EU 2021-07-01e; EdisonTD n.d.f) depicting the country's coat of arms on the identity page and a tiger's head and the page number on the remaining pages (EdisonTD n.d.f).
  • UV features (EdisonTD n.d.f; EU 2021-07-01e).
    
    

The same sources describe the identity page as follows:

• Passport holder's photograph: in colour (EU 2021-07-01e; EdisonTD n.d.f) and measuring 44 mm by 33 mm (EdisonTD n.d.f).
• Text: machine written black text (EdisonTD n.d.f).
• Security features:
  
  • laminate (EdisonTD n.d.f; EU 2021-07-01e).
  • OVDs (EU 2021-07-01e; EdisonTD n.d.f).
  • UV features (EU 2021-07-01e; EdisonTD n.d.f).
    
    

2.3.2. Official E-Passport

A sample of an official passport with the biometric symbol on the front cover is available in the EdisonTD database; the sample was issued in November 2019 (n.d.g).

EdisonTD describes the passport as follows:

• Cover design: dark blue with rounded corners.
• Cover material: linen and a "[s]ynthetic/[p]olymer" material.
• Binding: sewn with triple-colour (green, white and red) thread.
• Number of pages: 64.
• Validity: 10 years for individuals 18–55 years old, and 5 years for those under 18 or over 55.
• Security features:
  
  • a watermark on all inner pages (n.d.g).
    
    

The same source describes the identity page as follows:

• Passport holder's photograph: in colour.
• Text: machine written with black font.
• Security features:
  
  • bearer's signature.
  • polycarbonate substrate.
  • UV features (EdisonTD n.d.g).
    
    

3. Requirements and Procedure to Obtain and Renew Passports in Bangladesh

3.1. Requirements and Procedure to Obtain and Renew an MRP in Bangladesh

Information on the requirements and procedure to obtain and renew an MRP in the country was scarce among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response. An online application form for the MRP is available on the website for the Department of Immigration and Passports (Bangladesh n.d.d). The instructions for the form note that once it is submitted online, the applicant must report to a regional passport office to provide their biometric data (Bangladesh n.d.d). The form itself indicates that it can be used to apply for ordinary, diplomatic and official passports and that the application can be submitted from within Bangladesh or abroad (Bangladesh n.d.e).

3.2. Requirements and Procedure to Obtain and Renew an E-Passport in Bangladesh

The information in this section was provided on the e-passport registration portal run by Bangladesh's Department of Immigration and Passports.

The following documents are required to enrol at passport offices in Bangladesh:

• Printed application summary, including appointment if applicable;
• Printed application form;
• Original national ID card (NID) or birth certificate [4];
• Previous passport, if applicable;
• Payment receipt, if payment was done "[o]ffline" (Bangladesh 2025-05-07).
  
  

For official passport applications, documentation from the employer also is required (Bangladesh 2025-05-07). Retired public servants must also provide a copy of their "PRL" [Post-Retirement Leave] order [5] (Bangladesh 2023-05-31).

An applicant must complete the following 5 steps to apply for a new e-passport in the country:

1. Check if the new e-passport is available in the applicant's area by consulting the list of "functional" e-passport offices;
2. Complete the online application;
3. Pay the required fees;
4. Visit the passport office for biometric enrolment; and
5. Collect the e-passport at the designated office (Bangladesh 2025-05-04).
   
   

For "regular" delivery, e-passport issuance takes up to 21 days from the biometric enrolment date (Bangladesh 2025-07-01). Express delivery takes up to 10 days, and super express delivery occurs within 2 business days (Bangladesh 2025-07-01).

Citizens in Bangladesh who meet "specific conditions" and pay the applicable fees can choose the super express option in the online application portal (Bangladesh 2025-06-01). Super express applications can be processed at any passport office in Bangladesh, but the resulting passports can only be picked up from the Divisional Passport and Visa Office in Dhaka (Bangladesh 2025-06-01).

Fees for regular delivery of an e-passport within the country are as follows:

Number of pages	Passport validity	Fees
48	5 years	4,025 Taka (BDT) [C$45]
48	10 years	5,750 BDT [C$64]
64	5 years	6,325 BDT [C$71]
64	10 years	8,050 BDT [C$90]

(Bangladesh 2025-07-01)

Fees are higher for express and super express processing (Bangladesh 2025-07-01).

Information on the requirements and procedure to renew or replace an e-passport could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

3.2.1. Police Verification Requirement

Sources report that Bangladesh removed the police verification requirement for the issuance of passports in February 2025 (The Daily Observer 2025-02-04; BSS 2025-02-17; Australia 2025-07-23, para. 5.42). Media sources indicate that citizens can apply for a passport using their NID or birth registration documents (BSS 2025-02-17; UNB 2025-03-04). Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS), the national news agency of Bangladesh (BSS n.d.), reports that the "'police verification will not be required if the information [in] the database matches with the information provided in the application'" (BSS 2025-02-17).

4. Requirements and Procedure to Obtain and Renew Passports and Travel Documents from Outside Bangladesh

4.1. Requirements and Procedure to Obtain an MRP from Outside Bangladesh

The websites of both the Embassy of Bangladesh in Brussels and the Consulate General of Bangladesh in Toronto have instructions on applying for an MRP, last updated in 2025 (Bangladesh 2025-09-19; Bangladesh 2025-06-27). The embassy in Brussels, within the same instructions, specifically advises Bangladeshi passport holders with handwritten passports to replace them with MRPs (Bangladesh 2025-06-27). However, Ace Law LLP, a UK-based law firm that serves the Bangladeshi diaspora, reports that as of December 2023, the High Commission in London had ceased to accept new MRP applications, although applications for MRP re-issue were still allowed (2023-11-08). The embassies for Bangladesh in Spain, Mexico and Italy, consulted in May 2026, also do not list MRP issuance among the services on their websites (Bangladesh n.d.f; Bangladesh n.d.g; Bangladesh n.d.h). However, websites for the Bangladeshi high commissions in Ottawa and Singapore and embassy in Lebanon still list MRP issuance among their services as of May 2026 (Bangladesh 2024-08-15; Bangladesh 2022-02-04; Bangladesh n.d.i).

According to the website of the High Commission for Bangladesh in Ottawa, in order to apply for an MRP, applicants must complete an online application form and report to their assigned passport office [the High Commission Office in Ottawa] within 15 days to provide biometric data, bringing a print-out of the completed application form (Bangladesh 2024-08-15). Applicants must provide the following documentation in support of their application:

• A copy of either their NID or their birth registration certificate containing their 17-digit birth registration number,
• A copy and the original of their previous passport, and
• 2 "recent" photographs (35 mm by 45 mm) (Bangladesh 2024-08-15).
  
  

The same source notes that the fee for regular passport issuance, which takes 6–8 weeks, is C$150 (Bangladesh 2024-08-15). For express issuance, which takes 3–5 weeks, the fee is C$300 (Bangladesh 2024-08-15).

The online application form [to which the Ottawa high commission directs applicants] indicates that it can be used to apply for ordinary, diplomatic and official passports (Bangladesh n.d.e).

4.2. Requirements and Procedure to Renew an MRP Outside Bangladesh

As of May 2026, the guidelines for MRP reissuance on the website of the Consulate General of Bangladesh in Toronto begin with a notice that MRP reissuance, including due to passport expiration, is not available (Bangladesh 2025-09-19). The Bangladesh High Commission in London's website similarly has a notice indicating that it has stopped accepting MRP reissue applications and recommending that individuals apply for an e-passport instead (Bangladesh n.d.j). A publication from February 2025 on the website of the Embassy of Bangladesh in Washington, DC, states, citing 2024 directives from the Bangladeshi government, that "the service of MRP re-issue is being phased out" and was scheduled to cease completely on 30 June 2025 (Bangladesh 2025-02-22).

4.3. Requirements and Procedure to Obtain and Renew an E-Passport Outside Bangladesh

The website of the High Commission of Bangladesh in London notes that applicants cannot apply for an e-passport if they have an MRP with more than 1 year's validity remaining and that MRPs can continue to be used "as long as they are valid" (Bangladesh n.d.b).

The website of the Consulate General of Bangladesh in Toronto states that to apply for a new e-passport or to have an e-passport re-issued, Bangladeshi citizens living in Canada must provide their latest Bangladeshi passport, whether handwritten or machine-readable, or provide a police report attesting to its loss (Bangladesh 2026-03-25). The same source adds that applicants must also provide a copy of their Bangladeshi NID or their 17-digit birth registration certificate (Bangladesh 2026-03-25). The Consulate General of Bangladesh in Sydney notes that the NID and digital birth certificate "are not interchangeable"; only if the applicant does not possess an NID can they use a birth certificate as their sole form of identification for the passport application (Bangladesh n.d.c). The Toronto consulate notes that children of Bangladeshi citizens born abroad must provide their 17-digit birth registration certificate from Bangladeshi authorities and copies of their parents' passports to be eligible for an e-passport (Bangladesh 2026-03-25). The High Commission of Bangladesh in London notes that Bangladeshi birth certificates submitted "must be online verifiable and must contain English data" (Bangladesh n.d.b). Without providing further details, the same source adds that it cannot process any e-passport application submitted with a birth certificate issued by the Dhaka South City Corporation after 2022 (Bangladesh n.d.b).

According to the website of the Consulate General of Bangladesh in Toronto, applicants must begin their application by completing the online form available on the Bangladeshi epassport registration portal as well as an application on the consulate's website (Bangladesh 2026-03-25). The same source notes that applicants will need to physically go to the consulate for their biometric collection and must bring the documentation mentioned in the previous paragraph, as well as a print-out of their application confirmation from the consulate and a printed version of the completed e-passport application form (Bangladesh 2026-03-25).

The Toronto consulate's website states that professionals such as doctors and engineers "should" upload their professional certificates to apply for an e-passport (Bangladesh 2026-03-25). The same source adds that applicants for official passports are required to upload a copy of a government order [which demonstrates that they are currently employed by the government (Bangladesh 2015-05-13)] (Bangladesh 2026-03-25).

The consulate's website further gives the following fees for regular processing of an e-passport:

	Number of pages	Passport validity	Fees
General applicants	48	5 years	C$165
	10 years	C$210
64	5 years	C$250
	10 years	C$290
Student applicants [6]	48	5 years	C$50
	10 years	C$80
64	5 years	C$250
	10 years	C$290

(Bangladesh 2026-03-25)

The same source lists higher fees for express delivery (Bangladesh 2026-03-25). The website of the Consulate General of Bangladesh in Toronto notes that, with regular delivery, an e-passport is generally ready within 5 to 6 weeks, depending on how long it takes to get the document back from Bangladesh (Bangladesh 2026-03-25). "Express" applications can be processed in 3 to 4 weeks (Bangladesh 2026-03-25). The e-passport registration portal indicates that "[s]uper [e]xpress" delivery is not available outside of the country (Bangladesh 2025-06-01).

Information on the application procedure for diplomatic passports could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response. Information on e-passport renewal could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

4.4. Requirements and Procedure to Obtain a Travel Document

According to the website of the Embassy of Bangladesh in Brussels, Bangladeshi nationals who do not have a Bangladeshi passport but wish to return to Bangladesh can apply for a travel document (Bangladesh 2025-06-27). Applicants should attend an in-person "interview" at the embassy, pay the required fee, and present a copy of the following documents:

• 1 of the 3 following documents: their previous passport; their Bangladeshi birth certificate, "duly attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dhaka"; or their NID, "duly attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dhaka,"
• 4 passport-sized photographs, and
• their completed application form (Bangladesh 2025-06-27).
  
  

5. Passport-Related Offences and Penalties

The Bangladesh Passport Order provides the following:

11. (1) Whoever-

1. contravenes the provisions of Article 3; or
2. knowingly furnishes any false information or suppresses any material fact with a view to obtaining a passport or travel document under this Order or without lawful authority alters or attempts to alter or causes to alter the entries made in a passport or travel document; or
3. fails to produce for inspection his passport or travel document (whether issued under this Order or not) when called upon to do so by the prescribed authority; or
4. knowingly uses a passport or travel document issued to another person; or
5. knowingly allows another person to use a passport or travel document issued to him, shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to Taka two thousand, or with both.

(2) Whoever abets any offence punishable under clause (1) shall be liable to punishment provided in that clause for that offence.

(3) Whoever contravenes any condition of a passport or travel document or any provision of this Order or any rule made thereunder for which no punishment is provided elsewhere in this Order shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three months, or with fine which may extend to Taka five hundred, or with both.

12. (1) Any officer of customs empowered in this behalf by a general or special order of the Government [or any officer of the Bangladesh Bureau of Anti-Corruption not below the rank of an Assistant Inspector or any officer of police] not below the rank of a Sub-Inspector may search any place and seize any passport or travel document from any person or arrest such person without warrant if a reasonable suspicion exists that he has committed any offence punishable under Article 11.

(2) The provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (Act V of 1898), relating to search and seizure and arrest shall, so far as may be, apply to search and seizure and arrest under this Article. (Bangladesh 1973)

The Passport (Offences) Act, 1952 provides the following:

Penalties for certain offences relating to passport

3. (1) Any person who,-

1. makes, attests or verifies any statement which he does not know or believe to be true in any document which he knows or has reason to think will be used for obtaining a passport; or
2. makes use of any statement which he knows or has reason to think to be untrue in any document for obtaining a passport; or
3. wilfully conceals any fact which under the circumstances he ought to disclose for the purpose of obtaining a passport for himself or another person; or
4. forges, alters or tampers with any passport or with any document which he knows or has reason to believe will be used for obtaining a passport; or
5. uses a passport which he knows or has reason to believe to be forged, altered, or tampered with; or
6. is in wrongful possession for any purpose prejudicial to the interests of the State of a passport not lawfully issued to him; or
7. traffics in passports;

shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend to two years or with a fine, or with both. (Bangladesh 1952, bold in original)

6. Revocation of a Passport or Travel Document

Article 7 of the Bangladesh Passport Order provides the following:

…

(2) The passport authority may impound or cause to be impounded or revoke a passport or travel document,-

1. if the passport authority is satisfied that the holder of the passport or travel document is in wrongful possession thereof;
2. if the passport or travel document was obtained by suppression of material facts;
3. if the passport authority deems it necessary to do so in the interest of sovereignty, integrity or security of Bangladesh, or in the public interest;
4. if the holder of the passport or travel document has, at any time after the issue of the passport or travel document, been convicted by a court in Bangladesh for any offence involving moral turpitude and sentenced in respect thereof to imprisonment for not less than two years or if the holder of the passport or travel document has been convicted under the Bangladesh Collaborators (Special Tribunal) Order, 1972 (P.O. No. 8 of 1972);
5. if an order has been passed by any court in Bangladesh prohibiting the departure of the holder of the passport or travel document from Bangladesh and requiring the passport authority to impound or cause to be impounded or revoke such passport or travel document;
6. if any of the conditions of the passport or travel document has been contravened;
7. if the holder of the passport or travel document has failed to comply with a notice under clause (1) requiring him to deliver up the same.

(3) The passport authority may also revoke a passport or travel document on the application of the holder thereof.

… (Bangladesh 1973, Art. 7)

The same law further provides as follows:

8. (1) A court convicting the holder of a passport or travel document of any offence under this Order or the rules made thereunder may also revoke the passport or travel document:

Provided that if the conviction is set aside on appeal or otherwise the revocation shall become void.

(2) An order of revocation under clause (1) may also be made by the Supreme Court when exercising its powers of appeal or revision.

9. On the revocation of a passport or travel document under this Order the holder thereof shall, without delay, surrender the passport or travel document, if the same has not already been impounded, to the authority by whom it has been revoked or to such other authority as may be specified in the order of revocation. (Bangladesh 1973)

7. Fraudulent Documents

According to a Swedish Migration Agency report on Bangladesh, the government has introduced the e-passport, among other more "secure" identity documents, to "prevent document fraud, which has been a common problem for a long time" (Sweden 2025-04-23, 6). A 2025 country information report on Bangladesh by Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) states that "document fraud" is "prevalen[t] … in relation to passport-qualifying documents (rather than the passports themselves)" (Australia 2025-07-23, para. 5.42).

A 2023 National Household Survey on Corruption in Service Sectors conducted by Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB), the national chapter of Transparency International [7], reports that between May 2023 and April 2024, the passport sector of Bangladesh was among the "most corrupt" service sectors in the country (TIB 2024-12-03, 3). The TIB report indicates that 9% of the 15,515 individuals surveyed reported interacting with passport services, and of those, 86% reported experiencing "some form of corruption" and 75% reported "incidents of bribery" (2024-12-03, 10, 20). The Dhaka Tribune, an English-language newspaper in Bangladesh, citing the Deputy Director of Bangladesh's Anti-Corruption Commission [8], notes that there have been "allegations of customer harassment and bribes demanded through brokers" involving officials and employees at the Dhaka Divisional Passport Office (2024-12-15).

Sources report that the Anti-Corruption Commission filed cases of passport fraud against the former inspector general of the Bangladesh police (The Daily Observer 2024-06-26; The Daily Star 2024-06-25). The Daily Star notes that 7 passports were issued to the former inspector general and his family members through the Department of Immigration and Passports (2024-06-25). The Dhaka Tribune reports that this individual "misuse[d] his power and secured the seven passports without appearing at the passport office" (2024-06-25).

BSS reports that the Anti-Corruption Commission laid charges against 5 individuals for their roles in helping a Rohingya woman obtain a Bangladeshi passport using "fake documents" and a "false identity" (2025-08-21). The Australian DFAT report states that, as with "all people" residing in Bangladesh, Rohingya "may be able to access fake [Bangladeshi] passports" (Australia 2025-07-23, para. 5.44). The same source indicates that these passports are "sometimes entirely fraudulent, having been manufactured by people smugglers, rather than being fraudulently obtained genuine documents" (Australia 2025-07-23, para. 5.44).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Notes

[1] EdisonTD is a travel document database developed by the Dutch authorities (Norwegian ID Centre n.d.). ^[back]

[2] PRADO defines OVDs as security features that "show different information, depending on the viewing and/or lighting conditions" (EU 2022, 104). ^[back]

[3] PRADO's description of the passport in question notes that it was first issued in 2013 (EU 2021-07-01c). EdisonTD indicates that their sample passport belongs to the "BA Series" but does not give a date of first issue (n.d.b). However, IDnow, a Germany-based company providing "identity verification" services (IDnow 2026-03-31), indicates that the BA series is from 2013 (n.d.). Visually, the samples from the 2 sources appear virtually identical, aside from the identity of the holder (EU 2021-07-01c; EdisonTD n.d.b). ^[back]

[4] Media sources, citing a notice from the Bangladesh Ministry of Home Affairs' Security Services Department, indicate that passports will generally be issued on the basis of the NID card (BSS 2025-02-17; UNB 2025-03-04). However, the same sources note that minors should submit their birth registration certificate instead (BSS 2025-02-17; UNB 2025-03-04); those aged 18 to 20 can submit either document (UNB 2025-03-04). ^[back]

[5] Under Bangladeshi law, public servants are entitled to a 1-year leave after retirement from the public service, known as post-retirement leave or PRL, before their retirement officially "takes effect" (Banglapedia 2021-08-03). ^[back]

[6] The website of the Consulate General of Bangladesh in Sydney states that a valid student ID is required to qualify for the student discount (Bangladesh n.d.k). ^[back]

[7] Transparency International is an international non-profit NGO aiming to "stop corruption and promote transparency" through advocacy, campaigning, and research (Transparency International n.d.). ^[back]

[8] The Anti-Corruption Commission was established by the Anti-Corruption Commission Act, 2004, as an "'independent'" commission to prevent and investigate corruption in Bangladesh (Bangladesh 2025-08-12, 2). Commissioners are appointed by the president (Bangladesh 2025-08-12, 3). ^[back]

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Additional Sources Consulted

Internet sites, including: Al Jazeera; Austrian Red Cross – ecoi.net; Bangladesh – Bangladesh Police Special Branch, consulate general in New York, deputy high commission in Chennai, embassy in Netherlands, high commission in Canberra, Ministry of Commerce, Office of the Registrar General, Birth and Death Registration; Bertelsmann Stiftung; DD News; Denmark – National ID Centre; EU – EU Agency for Asylum; Factiva; Fintech Finance News; Freedom House; The Guardian; The Hindu; Human Rights Watch; The Indian Express; Keesing Technologies – Keesing DocumentChecker; New Delhi Television; The New Nation; Organiser; Sumsub; The Times of India; UN – Refworld; UK – Home Office; US – Department of Justice; Voice of America.