IOM has set up Bangladesh's first solar-powered land border
checkpoint and Document Analysis Centre at Benapole, the largest
and busiest border post between Bangladesh and India.

"Frequent power cuts previously resulted in delays for the some
2,000 people a day crossing at Benapole. But the 5.63 kw solar
panel system, which can run all the equipment at the checkpoint for
up to two hours, will cut waiting times and transform efficiency
levels," says IOM Regional Representative for South Asia Rabab
Fatima.

The IOM project, funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and
International Trade of Canada, also equipped the border post with
computers, investigation equipment, air conditioning and
furniture.

"The modernized immigration system at Benapole will allow
immigration officials to investigate travel documents and
interrogate incoming and outgoing passengers much more efficiently.
It will also allow us to monitor activities more regularly from
Dhaka," says Mohammad Javed Patwary, Additional Inspector General
of the Police Special Branch, the Bangladeshi agency responsible
for immigration.

IOM previously helped the Bangladeshi Special Branch to set up
another Document Analysis Centre at Dhaka international airport,
which handles some 10,000 people every day.

The same Australian-funded project also trained immigration
officials in immigration investigation techniques and provided
communications links between five of Bangladesh's 33 border
checkpoints.

For more information please contact:

Asif Munier

IOM Dhaka

Tel. +880.2.988.9765

E-mail: "mailto:amunier@iom.int">amunier@iom.int