Despite heavy public investment, the 44 automated e-gates installed at Bangladesh’s major airports and land ports to speed up immigration for e-passport holders remain largely unused, raising questions about planning, accountability, and value for money.
Installed at a cost of Tk34.5 crore under the “Bangladesh e-passport and automated border control management introduction” project, the gates were intended to process passengers in just 18 seconds. Instead, most gates are shut at departure points, forcing travelers into manual queues, causing delays and frustration.
The broader project, initially approved at Tk4,635 crore, was later revised to Tk9,380 crore, with officials yet to clarify the increase. The system, installed by German firm Veridos GmbH in 2018, included training for airport staff, but technical limitations prevent it from verifying visas, flight details, or destination information.
As a result, immigration officials must still process passengers manually. Passengers report longer wait times, undermining the promise of faster, smoother travel. Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport’s executive director confirmed the gates cannot handle visa verification, while experts warn that prolonged shutdowns could make the system obsolete, wasting further public funds.
Although Bangladesh became the first South Asian country to launch e-passports and an automated border control system in January 2020, millions of travelers continue to face delays, highlighting a gap between policy ambitions and practical implementation.
