An individual’s citizenship status has nothing to do with a having a valid passport, says chief of the Department of Immigration and Passport.
“A Bangladesh national can return home anytime, even if he or she does not have a passport” Director General Md Masud Rezwan told the media on Thursday.
His remarks come amid State Minister Shahriar Alam claiming BNP leader Tarique Rahman not being a Bangladeshi citizen anymore as his passport has been forwarded to the London mission through the UK Home Office.
The BNP, however, says its acting chief is still very much a Bangladeshi citizen and that the standard procedure of seeking asylum requires submitting passport with the UK authorities.
Speaking at a news conference at the passport department offices, Director General Rezwan confirmed that Tarique has no Bangladeshi passport at this moment.
“He returned his passport in 2014 but did not apply for its renewal. It’s the UK authorities, who can say, what his status is,” he said.
Tarique left Bangladesh in 2008 with manually hand-written passport, said the official adding: “It expired in 2010 and it was surrendered in 2014. A new machine readable passport will require a national ID, which he does not have. He has to come home for obtaining it."
According to Rezwan, Tarique will now require a travel document issued by the Bangladesh High Commission in London, if he wants to return.
“However, it’s entirely his decision, he can’t be forced. If the government wants to bring him back, then it will have to figure out a legal way.”
The passport department chief, however, made it clear that they will not issue a new passport for Tarique since he has been convicted of criminal charges.
“According to the 1976 Passport Act, a criminal conviction with jail term for over two years disqualifies for obtaining a passport,” he added.
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