Centre scraps old Indo-Bangladesh passport scheme

Aizawl, Sep 15 (UNI) The Ministry of External Affairs has decided to scrap off the existing Indo-Bangladesh passport scheme, under which residents of North Eastern(NE) states can avail a special document to travel only to Bangladesh.

The Ministry has reached a conclusion that such a scheme no more exists as it is a security risk and could be misused easily, the official sources here today informed.

The Minsitry had already communicated its intention to all the seven NE states.

Neighbouring Bangladesh has also been asked to scrap the scheme, official sources said.

''It is time to review the Indo-Bangla passport scheme and change it,'' officials said.

Keeping in view the current border scenario such passports pose a huge threat to the security of our nation as in the past it had been misused by militants and smugglers, they added.

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