Finally, the e-gate of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka was opened for e-passport holders. Through this, Bangladesh is going to be recognized as the first country in South Asia to launch e-gate.
Col. Md. Khalid Saifullah, Additional Director, e-Passport Project, confirmed the opening of 27 electronic gates (e-gates) at the airport from Tuesday, June 7, 2022.
Those concerned are hopeful that the opening of the gates will put an end to the long formalities in the immigration process at Dhaka Airport. That being said, as a result of this technological advantage, immigration formalities for travelers arriving and departing through the airport will take less time. Passengers do not have to wait in queues, as the e-gate will open automatically for e-passport holders.
According to the Bangladesh Passport and Immigration Department, when a person goes to the e-gate with the e-passport, the gate will open immediately if the e-passport is kept in a certain place. The camera will take pictures after standing under the gate according to certain rules. After that, if all goes well, the passenger will be able to pass the immigration in 12-15 seconds. But if someone makes a mistake, the red light will come on. Then the officials in charge will assist the person concerned to use the e-passport properly.
Initially, Bangladeshi diplomats with e-passports, government officials with official e-passports, commercially important officials (CIPs), e-passport holders with the best taxpayer cards, e-passport holders, pilots and crews will be able to use e-gate, the home ministry said.
In July 2018, the German company Veridos GmbH was contracted to install the e-gates at the airport. After the e-gate was set up in 2019, the airport officials also received training to operate it. To modernize the immigration process and increase the acceptability of Bangladeshi passports, the government launched the e-Passport Program and Automated Border Control (ABC) management in January 2020.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the e-passport and automatic border control system on January 22, 2020. On June 30, 2021, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal inaugurated the e-gate at Shahjalal International Airport.
