DHAKA: Department of Immigration and Passport of the country has taken initiatives to accelerate the process of making the Machine Readable Passport (MRP) ready for the Hajj pilgrims.

M Siraj Uddin, additional Director General of the department, has already given instructions to its officials to make the application process for the pilgrims’ hazard free.

He also said that the Hajj pilgrims won’t have to make a queue to submit their applications rather they can submit applications directly.

If any pilgrims fall sick in the process of getting MRP then the passport department team will collect data and accomplish the process by visiting them in hospitals.

Earlier on May 18, the government of Saudi Arabia has imposed rule that every pilgrim of Bangladesh must have MRP with him/her for performing Hajj this year.

According to the information of Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB), some 1,01,000 Bangladeshi pilgrims are likely to perform Hajj this year.

However, some 80-85 thousands pilgrims are not having MRP with them so that the passport office has now become a center with huge crowd of the pilgrims.

Department of Immigration and Passport sources said that the MRP for awaiting people will be done shortly.

Siraj Uddin said that the deadline of depositing money for Hajj is June 1 though operations of performing hajj will be in October. He also alerts everyone not to give money to any fraud or middlemen. Even the process will be made faster and easier if the applicants can apply directly.

Siraj Uddin also said that some 33 passport offices in 33 districts along with the central passport office of Agargaon are proving special service for Hajj pilgrims across the country.

The people from outside of Dhaka and others, who won’t be verified by police, may get their passport bit late otherwise the passport making process runs swiftly, he added.

There are special services and counters for delivering passports to the pilgrims, he further said.

He also advised the pilgrims not to approach to travel agencies or any middlemen rather making MRP by self.

BDST: 1035 HRS, MAY 22, 2014