Gates electronic, immigration process still manual

Although authorities have installed electronic immigration gates or e-gates at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA), the system still does not have all the planned functions.

This system will include features (which are yet to be installed) like verification of passenger, destination and visa information for a hassle-free immigration process.

Once the features are installed, inbound and outbound passengers will only need to face immigration officials just for the departure and arrival seal. Other immigration processes will be completed automatically.

Amid criticisms that e-gates take up more time than the existing system, Group Captain Kamrul Islam, executive director of HSIA, yesterday told The Daily Star, "We're working to include an integrated system with e-gates, which will notify immigration officials automatically whether the passengers are carrying a valid visa or boarding pass."

BMET cards would be checked manually, since it is not possible to integrate them into the system.

Kamrul further said it may take time but passengers have given positive feedback regarding the process. Besides, work to install two more e-gates with the existing three for inbound passengers has already started.

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan inaugurated the e-gates in June last year. They were opened for use last Tuesday.

At the time, Kamrul claimed that passengers with e-passports will be able to pass immigration through e-gates in only 18 seconds.

In reality, e-gates are only checking passport validity now; other processes are being carried out manually. What this means is that it will now take 18 seconds more for immigration formalities than what it used to take, sources claimed.

GM Azizur Rahman, additional DIG (immigration) of Special Branch, said, "E-gates do not have the capacity to check visas, destinations, boarding times, and BMET cards."

"Visas can be fake and e-gates cannot identify that," he said, adding that there is no option to store -- at the e-gates -- information on passengers' destination or which airline they'll board." he said.

"E-gates now check whether the passport is valid and belongs to the right owner. It first checks the passenger's passport. If it's valid, the first barrier is crossed. The passenger's face and eyes will be scanned before the next gate," the officer added.

"Besides, this system is also assisting us identify whether any red notice is issued against the passport holder," he mentioned.

Asked if e-gates are helping immigration processes, Azizur said that earlier, they needed to verify passports and check passport holders' identification manually, but now, e-gates do those for them.

"Still, we have to be alert so that no one's able to leave the country with fake documents, especially to countries where no travel visa is required," said the official.

So far, 12 e-gates have been installed in the departure area, while three are at the arrival area of the airport.

Apart from Dhaka airport, six e-gates have been set up at Shah Amanat International Airport in Chattogram and Osmani International Airport in Sylhet.

The government has a plan to set up 50 e-gates gradually at all airports and land ports under the "E-Passport and Automated Border Control Management Project".