What is Passport

What is Passport?         

Passport means a passport for the time being in force issued or renewed by the class of passports to which it belongs; and prescribed means prescribed by rules made under this Act (Sec-2)

A Passport is a document of identity and nationality issued to citizens or subjects of a state who intend to travel or visit foreign countries. It is a document which requests and requires in the name of the state of the Government issuing it , all these to whom it may concern to give to the bearer every assistance and protection as a subject or the citizen of the state issuing the passport in foreign countries. ( Naziran Bai VS State, AIR 1957 Madh Pradesh 1)

Power to make rule-

The Government may make rules requiring that persons entering Bangladesh shall be in possession of passports, and for all matters ancillary or incidental to that Purpose. Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power such rules may-

·         Prohibit the entry into Bangladesh or any part thereof of any person who has not in his possession a passport issued to him

·         Prescribe the authorities by whom passports must have3 been issued or renewed, and the conditions with which  they must comply for the purposes of this Act; and

·         Provide for the exemption, either absolutely or on any condition, of any person or class of persons from any provision of such rules.

Rules made under this section any contravention thereof or of any order issued under the authority of any such rule shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may ext en tot three months or with fine or withy both. (Sec-3 Sub Sec-3)

Power of arrest

Any police officer not below the rank of sub- inspector and any officer4 of the Customs Department empowered by a genera or special order of the Government in this behalf may arrest without any warrant any person who a has contravened against whom. Or every officer under this section without unnecessary delay, take or send the person arrestee before a Magistrate having jurisdiction in the case or the officer in charge of the nearest police station.(Sec-4)

Power of Removal

The Government may, the general or special order, director the removal of any person from Bangladesh who, in contravention of any rule made under sec-3(Sec-5)

Passport Authorities

The secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs and the Director- General, Immigration and Passports (R-3,sub-1), The Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs or an officered authorized by him (R-3,sub-2), The Officers Specified in Column I or II of Schedule I may issue the passports and travel document, Column III thereof to any citizen of Bangladesh residing. Or an officered empowered to issue a passport under his rule (Sub R-3)

Duration of passport (Rule-5),

Restriction on visits to certain foreign countries (Ru-5A)

Financial Guarantee (Ru-6) No Surety bond or bank guarantee shall be necessary where the applicant is-

(a)    Member of Parliament (b) A Class officer of Government or wife or child of such officer (c) A person settled abroad his wife and children (d) An officer or employee of the Government or of a statutory corporation (e) A Recipient of an employment voucher from the United Kingdom or work permit from any other country (f) A recipient of scholarship or fellowship (g) An income tax payee etc.

Function of the Director general, Immigration and passports (Ru-10)

Appellate Authority (Ru-11) A person aggrieved by an order of a passport authority may within a period of two menthe from the date of the order, prefer an appeal

= Where the order is that of any authority other than the Secretary, Home Affairs, to the Secretary, home affairs; and

= Where the order is that of the Secretary, home affairs, to the minister for home Affairs.