On 11 March 2010, Special Branch and IOM jointly inaugurated the new premises of Immigration Check Post and Document Analysis Centre (DAC) backed by solar power back-up system at Benapole, Jessore district. Benapole is the largest and the busiest land border check post in Bangladesh. About 10,000 people move through Dhaka airport daily while about 2,000 people cross through Benapole land border check post every day.

 
With the 5.63 kw solar panel system, the DAC and the checkpost has the maximum capacity to run all equipments non stop for two hours. With frequent power cuts for long hours, this will contribute immensely in improving the efficiency and speed to cover the backlog of day to day operation – said Special Branch (SB) of Bangladesh Police which manages the immigration department.

Speaking at the occasion the Additional Inspector General of Bangladesh Police in charge of the SB Mr. Mohammad Javed Patwary said, “SB has modernized the immigration system at Benapole with the support from IOM and Canadian High Commission. The DAC has been included to strengthen the activities of immigration management system. SB will be now able to monitor the activities of Benapole immigration check post even from Dhaka.”

“IOM Dhaka has been privileged to have established a strong partnership with the Special Branch since 2004. It is indeed encouraging to see that the programmes to enhance migration management capacity in Bangladesh are in the process of having positive results”, said IOM Regional Representative in Dhaka Ms. Rabab Fatima.

“This is one step forward towards ‘digital Bangladesh’. We will be able to process immigration formalities much faster at Benapole with the new facilities”, said Mr. Mohibul Haque, Deputy Commissioner of Jessore.

 
Among others guests were - Mr. Marcel Cloutier, First Secretary (Political), Canadian High Commission as Special Guest, Mr. Siddiqur Rahman, Additional DIG, Khulna Range, Bangladesh Police, Mr. Mohibul Haque, Deputy Commissioner, Jessore and Mr. Md. Didar Ahmed, SP, Jessore, Ms. Kristina Mejo, Regional Programme Manager, IOM Dhaka and Mr. Jon Danilowicz, Counselor for Political/Economic Affairs, US Embassy, Dhaka. The guests thanked IOM and the Canadian Government for supporting the process to enhance the capacity of the immigration activities.

After the deliberation of the guests, they went to the new building to inaugurate the new premises and DAC. They also went around to see the newly established Network Operation Centre, DAC and the solar power back-up system.