Faiz Taiyeb also Surrender Diplomatic Passports Ahead of Tenure Expiry

At least 12 policymakers of Bangladesh’s interim government, including Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser on Posts, Telecommunications and ICT (with the rank of state minister), have surrendered their diplomatic passports-known as “red passports”-before the end of their tenure and applied for regular passports.

Sources at the Department of Passports confirmed the development, though it could not be independently verified. A reliable insider suggested the move was a “far-sighted decision” aimed at avoiding legal or bureaucratic complications during foreign travel after leaving office.

Among those reported to have surrendered their diplomatic passports are Home Affairs Adviser Maj. Gen. (Retd.) Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury and Foreign Affairs Adviser Md. Touhid Hossain, though the latter has denied the claim. Others said to be on the list include Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed, Power and Energy Adviser Muhammad Faozul Kabir Khan, Information, Broadcasting and Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Housing and Public Works Adviser Adilur Rahman Khan, Primary and Mass Education Adviser Prof. Dr. Bidhan Ranjan Roy Poddar, Inspector General of Police Baharul Alam, several full secretaries of the government, and a number of High Court judges. None of those whose names have surfaced have publicly commented on the matter.

A senior official explained that since the introduction of e-passports, the validity of diplomatic passports has been set at five years. However, under special rules, the passport’s effectiveness ends with the holder’s tenure in office. Officials are required to surrender their diplomatic passports once their responsibilities conclude. By applying early for regular passports, they can ensure smoother processing of travel documents and visas.

“This is a prudent step,” the official said, noting that early surrender helps avoid complications and ensures continuity in international travel arrangements once their official duties end. 
DBTech/RA/MU