Canadian High Commission (HC) in Singapore returned 600 Bangladeshi passports packed in sacks after discovering visa applications were submitted using forged information, certificates and documents.

Passports were sent to Lutfey Siddiqi, Special Envoy to Chief Adviser (CA), who disclosed the information on Tuesday at a press conference held at Foreign Service Academy on Bailey Road in Dhaka. Briefing focused on Bangladesh's participation in World Economic Forum held in Davos, Switzerland.

He explained that passports related to Canadian visa applications from Bangladesh are currently processed in Singapore. Organized broker syndicate has been submitting Canadian visa applications in names of Bangladeshi citizens using completely fake documentation. After verification, all applications were found to be fraudulent, prompting the mass return.

“When the brokers sense the risk of being caught, they stop collecting the concerned passports,” Lutfey Siddiqi told media.

He revealed that general diaries are then filed at police stations claiming passports were lost. Using those GDs, new passports are obtained and fresh attempts are made to apply for visas with false documents.

Criminal Investigation Department has been assigned to investigate the matter. Authorities are examining who the 600 passport holders are and through which networks they became involved in this illegal activity. Initial findings suggest only a small number of brokers are involved in the operation.

Special Envoy highlighted that an international perception has developed that Bangladesh does not take effective measures against illegal migration.

He noted that more importance appears to be given to sending as many people abroad as quickly as possible, while migrant welfare is often neglected.

“Bangladesh must now prove to the international community that it is taking strong and comprehensive action against illegal migration. This issue is particularly important in the case of European Union,” Lutfey Siddiqi said.

He added that if Bangladesh can properly highlight its efforts on legal and skilled migration, along with effective agreements with Italian government, new opportunities could open up in international migration sector.

Singapore processes Canadian visa applications for Bangladeshi citizens as part of regional visa processing arrangements. Mass return of passports marks one of largest documented cases of systematic visa fraud involving Bangladeshi applicants.

Investigation will focus on identifying broker networks, determining how applicants were recruited and establishing mechanisms to prevent future fraud. Authorities will also examine whether passport office procedures contributed to fraudulent passport issuance through fake GD reports.