Dhaka, Feb. 1 -- Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain on Sunday said reports claiming that he had surrendered his diplomatic passport are untrue, although he acknowledged that some of his colleagues have opted for ordinary passports to facilitate quicker visa processing due to travel-related issues.

"Here is where misinformation comes in. Neither my wife nor I have surrendered our diplomatic passports. My passport is with me. It is highly unusual that the Foreign Adviser or any Minister would surrender his or her diplomatic passport while the tenure is still in effect," he told reporters when asked about surrendering diplomatic passports by Advisers.

Hossain, however, confirmed that some have taken new passports, noting that it can...