The National Identity Card (NID) service is under the Election Commission. Its activities may be conducted through a separate authority. However, considering the importance and security of NID, the capacity of that authority will be increased. Such initiatives are being taken in the interest of linking the voter list and NID. In this regard, it is known that specific recommendations will be made by the Commission formed to reform the Election Commission.
Government of One-Eleven Citizens first receive National Identity Cards (NIDs) at the hands of the Election Commission as a by-product of the creation of time-photographed voter lists. Day by day the importance of NID is increasing to the people. Nowadays, NID has increased in importance and necessity for almost all kinds of services of the state including joining any work. As a result, getting NID has become more important to citizens than being a voter. Because of which, in the last decade and a half, the people have become averse to elections, but the interest in becoming voters for NID gains is increasing. It is learned that from the beginning the government had contemplated setting up an authority to manage the National Identity Card programme. However, it did not progress much at the time as it involved setting up separate offices at the field level, manpower and finances. Later, through a scheme, the activities of NID are being conducted under the supervision of a division under the Election Commission.
Along with citizen services through NID, identity recognition has increased in importance to law enforcement agencies and various government agencies. Due to which, during the previous Awami League government, an initiative was taken to vest NID under the Ministry of Home Affairs from the hands of the EC. Although there was opposition from the EC and civil society in this regard, the previous government unilaterally amended the law in this regard to entrust the NID to the security department of the Ministry of Home Affairs. Sheikh Hasina's government repealed the 'National Identity Registration Act, 2010' and enacted the 'National Identity Registration Act, 2023' on 18 September 2023. Then on November 14th of the same year, the 'Rules of Business, 1996' of the Security Services Department of the Ministry of Home Affairs was amended on November 14, 1996 to regulate the registration of the identity of Bangladeshi citizens, the creation and issuance of the National Identity Card (NID) card, the 'National Identity Registration Act'. 2023' and other functions related thereto are added to be carried out under the Department of Security Services. However, there was a condition in the law made by that government – the government will implement the law through gazette notification. It is still under EC due to non-issue of gazette notification as per conditions. It is known that the previous government had planned to create a separate department and take NID from the EC to the security department by 2025.
In the meantime, in the context of the fall of Sheikh Hasina's government in the face of the popular uprising of the students, a new situation of handing over the NID was created like in other areas. One month after the fall of the government, a DO letter was given to the Secretary of the Public Department of the President's Office by the EC Secretary on September 10. In the DO letter, detailing the NID's activities, it was alleged that the decision was taken unilaterally by the previous government without consulting the EC. The Commission requested to keep NID services under EC.
Monday (November 4) chief adviser. Muhammad Yunus held a meeting with the heads of 10 reform commissions. In that meeting, the head of the EC reform committee. Badiul Alam informed the Chief Adviser that voter list is being coordinated with National Identity Card.
Election expert Abdul Alim told Bangla Tribune, 'It is true that in most countries of the world, NID is not under the EC but under the government. But the context of Bangladesh is different. Voter list is related to NID. Our Commission has also acquired an expertise in doing this work for 16/17 years. So it would be appropriate to keep it under them. But in this case, they must improve the quality of their services and increase transparency and accountability. He said that he will present his position on the NID question in the meeting as a member of the Election Commission Reforms Committee. He said that a joint decision will be made in this regard.
Electoral Commission reform commission member and election, local government expert. Tofail Ahmed told Bangla Tribune, 'I think it will not be completely under EC. NID can be managed by a separate body under the supervision of EC. A link should be established between voter list and NID. NID's data security needs to be emphasized.'
Opposing keeping it in the Ministry of Home Affairs, he said, 'People's trust in the police is already low. So why keep it to them?'
He said that the reform committee has not yet started working on the issue of NID. When it is discussed, logical recommendations will be made after arranging the overall issue.
Election Commission Secretary Shafiul Alam told the Bangla Tribune about this, 'We have given the details to the government. This is being seen from the highest levels of government. I can't say what stage it is in right now. But it came from the hands of the EC, so we want it to remain under the EC.
