NID-related services should be held by EC: CEC

GBNEWS24 DESK//

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AKM Nurul Huda has said there was no consultation with the Election Commission (EC) to shift the National Identity (NID) cards-related services to the Security Services Division under the Ministry of Home Affairs.

“The EC should hold the NID-related services. Otherwise, some problems will occur in future,” he said.

CEC AKM Nurul Huda was talking to journalists regarding the matter at the Nirbachan Bhaban at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in the capital on Sunday.

Earlier, the officials and employees of the EC Secretariat met with the CEC and discussed the matter with him.

They strongly opposed the decision by the Prime Minister’s Office to shift the NID-related services to the Security Services Division under the Ministry of Home Affairs from the Election Commission.

Nurul Huda said the Election Commission was informed through a letter a few days ago that the NID-related services were going to be shifted to the Security Services Division under the Ministry of Home Affairs. But, no discussion was held with the EC regarding the matter. The matter is being discussed inside the EC after receiving the letter. The National Identity Registration Wing director general AKM Humayun Kabir has been asked to prepare a report where the Election Commission will explain its arguments for keeping the NID-related services under its jurisdiction. The report will be handed over to the Cabinet Division secretary.

The CEC said the matter of shifting the NID related services to the Security Services Division is still at the primary level. “It can’t be shifted instantly after receiving the letter. It’s a complex process,” he said.

“We think that the NID-related activities should be held by the EC, because the EC issues NID cards on the basis of voter lists. The government thinks that the Election Commission in any country does not make NID cards. It’s right that the Election Commission of a country doesn’t make NID cards,” Nurul Huda said.

“But, it will be a mistake if Bangladesh’s situation is compared with any country. There is no problem if the EC holds the NID-related services. The EC can provide services. However, the EC will try its best to apprise the Cabinet Division secretary about its position through talks,” he said.

Asked whether it would be a problem in the long run if the NID related services are shifted to another department of the government and voter list preparation related services are held by the EC, Nurul Huda said, “Obviously, there will be a problem, because the EC prepares the voter lists. It selects the age of voter. The EC has been doing this for a long time. Now, the EC will prepare the voter lists and NID-related services will go to the authority of others. Question of ‘subordination’ or ‘superiority’ with that government ministry will arise subsequently. The constitution doesn’t accept it. The Election Commission will remain separated.”

Currently, the NID-related services are being provided under the Election Commission, which has developed the NID database containing information on 100 million citizens aged above 18.

The NID services include issuing secure national identity cards to citizens, administering all related activities, including maintaining a national citizen registration database and delivering identity verification services to qualified public and private organisations.

A full-fledged NID wing was established following the passage of the National Identity Registration Act 2010. Bangladesh launched NID cards with photographs in 2007-2008, as part of updating the voter list.