E-gates at Dhaka airport to open within days for faster immigration: Home adviser

The e-gates at Dhaka airport will be operational within the next few days to speed up the immigration process, Home Adviser Lieutenant General (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said today (20 October).

"The e-gates at the airport will be opened very soon. The installation has been completed. Passengers will be able to proceed simply by showing their passports," the adviser said while speaking to reporters after a meeting of the core committee on law and order at the Secretariat.

The project to install e-gates at Dhaka airport was undertaken several years ago. 

The e-gate system allows e-passport holders to complete immigration procedures automatically. When a passenger places their e-passport on the designated spot, the gate opens instantly. The system then captures the passenger's photo, and if all information matches correctly, the immigration process is completed within seconds.

Reducing passport fee for migrant workers

At the press briefing, the adviser also said that the government is considering reducing passport fees for migrant workers.

He said, "Those who are earning foreign currency for the country are often deprived of various facilities. Discussions have been held on reducing their passport fees and increasing other benefits for them."

Asked whether sabotage was behind some recent major fire incidents, including the devastating fire at the cargo village in Dhaka airport, the adviser stated that several investigation committees have been formed to probe the incidents.

"The cause behind the fire can be confirmed after receiving the investigation reports," he said.

'Govt ready to hold next general election' 

Speaking to the reporters, the adviser also reiterated the government's readiness to hold the next general election scheduled for February next year.

He said, "We will face no problem in holding the next polls.''

The adviser sought cooperation from all relevant parties, particularly the media, in conducting the election.

Responding to another question, he said, "We will purchase body-worn cameras following due process, and the government has allocated Tk400 crore in this connection."

Jahangir said they are focusing on several issues, including excluding officials who performed duties in the last three general elections from election duties in the upcoming parliamentary polls, and 

providing proper training to law enforcers to conduct the elections accordingly.

He said law enforcers are being given training on the matters necessary for properly performing their election duties.