IOM Dhaka has organized a 5-day training in document analysis and examination for 20 Police Special Branch officers responsible for immigration.

The training, which was the first of its kind in Bangladesh, was provided by experts from IOM and the British High Commission, and is part of an ongoing technical cooperation programme funded by Australia.

"This workshop teaches participants about different international travel documents, their security features and provides hands on practice in their identification and verification," says IOM expert Sjef Broekhaar, who led the course. The closing session of the training was attended by IOM Regional Representative Rabab Fatima, the Head of the Special Branch, the Additional Inspector General of Bangladesh Police and the Australian High Commissioner.

IOM's Australia-funded technical cooperation programme provides a range of technical support to the Special Branch, including the establishment of Document Analysis Centres, online connectivity of major international ports, equipment support and professional training. It also supported the government's roll-out of machine readable passports.