High Court orders expat passport backlog cleared in 60 days

The High Court ordered the authorities to dispose of all pending applications for new passports and passport renewals submitted by Bangladeshi expatriates within 60 days, in a ruling aimed at addressing prolonged delays affecting overseas citizens.

A bench, comprising Justice Md. Habibul Gani and Justice Syed Mohammad Tajrul Hossain, issued the directive on Sunday (August 2) after holding a preliminary hearing on a public interest litigation.

The court also ordered the authorities to submit a compliance report within 90 days detailing the implementation of its directives.

In the order, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was instructed to issue a special circular within 21 days directing all Bangladeshi embassies and high commissions to promptly forward applications for new passports and renewals to the Department of Passports and Immigration for expedited processing.

The ministry was further directed to submit a separate compliance report to the court within 30 days.

In addition, the High Court issued a rule asking the authorities to explain within four weeks why delays in processing expatriates' passport applications should not be declared unlawful and why they should not be ordered to ensure prompt issuance and renewal of passports.

The public interest petition was filed by the rights organization Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB) following media reports highlighting lengthy delays and hardships faced by expatriates awaiting passport services.

The petition was submitted by advocates Mohammad Sarwar Ahad Chowdhury, Ripon Barai, and Mahbubul Islam, naming 14 respondents, including the Cabinet Secretary, the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister's Office, the Foreign Secretary, the Secretary of the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment, the Law Secretary, and the Director General of the Department of Passports and Immigration.

Appearing for HRPB, senior advocate Manzill Murshid argued that millions of Bangladeshis living and working abroad make a significant contribution to the country's economy through remittances, yet many face serious hardship because passport issuance and renewal applications remain pending for extended periods.

He told the court that delays have caused some expatriates to lose their jobs, ultimately affecting both their livelihoods and Bangladesh's economy.