angladesh Passport (IBP) will be discontinued with effect from November 15 this year.
“Pursuant to the signing of the Revised Travel Arrangements (RTA) between India and Bangladesh signed on January 28, 2013, it has been decided by the Ministry of External Affairs to discontinue issuance of IBP with effect from November 15, 2013,” Passport Granting Officer (Administration) under Regional Passport Office here said in a release on Monday.
IBP was introduced as a special travel document in August, 1972 to facilitate travel between India and Bangladesh only. Over the years the Centre delegated powers to state governments of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura and West Bengal to issue IBPs.
In order to implement the RTA between the two countries and to phase out issuance of the IBP, the following course of action has been approved by the Centre for implementation, the release said, adding IBPs already issued would remain valid till the expiry of their duration.
No new application for IBP would be accepted by any state government concerned after November 15, 2013 and all applications received on or before that date should be processed and IBPs issued expeditiously, it said.
No India-Bangladesh Passport should be issued after November 30, 2013 and all state governments concerned have been informed accordingly, the release added.(PTI)
