Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the e-passport services at a programme at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) on Wednesday morning.

E-passports add a layer of security to traditional non electronic passports by embedding an electronic chip in the passport booklet that stores the biographical information visible on page 2 of the passport, as well as a digital security feature, the UNB reported.

 The digital security feature is a country specific "digital signature." These digital signatures are unique to each country and can be verified using their respective certificates.

Maj Gen Shakil Ahmed, Director General of the Department of Immigration and Passports (DIP), said they would initially distribute e-passports from Agargaon, Jatrabari and Uttara offices.

E-passport will be rolled out later across the country in phases.

German company Veridos GmbH has been working on e-passport and e-gate in the country, he said.

The project, ‘Introduction of Bangladesh e-Passport and Automatic Border Control Management’, is being implemented at a cost of Tk 4,569 crore. The DIP is implementing it with full government funding.

Thirty million passports will be delivered in 10 years.