Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (Retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury today announced upcoming discussions on national security policies, including the potential abolition of the Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) and restrictions on the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI).

"All relevant stakeholders will meet to review and decide on various recommendations, including the abolition of Rab as proposed by the United Nations Office for Human Rights (OHCHR) and limiting DGFI to military intelligence activities," he said.

The OHCHR had earlier recommended disbanding Rab and restricting the functions of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and DGFI.

The adviser came up with the remark while launching SB Immigration's new online app for visa on arrival (VOA) and transit visa applications at his ministry today.

He said that the citizens of 14 countries would be able to use the app for visa on arrival (VOA).

"If the current system works effectively, foreigners will be able to obtain a visa on arrival within 10 minutes. If they submit their information online before arrival, it will be verified, and upon reaching Bangladesh, they will scan the code, make the payment, and receive the visa. The process will take only as long as a standard banking transaction," he explained.

On passport issuance, the adviser suggested reconsidering the need for police verification to simplify the process.

"To make the passport application process easier, I am considering whether police verification can be omitted. If it remains necessary, arrangements will be made to streamline it," he said.