Bangladesh News

Only people eligible for being registered as voters will now be entitled to get national identity (NID) card, according to a draft national identity registration act.

It also proposed that preparation of fake NID card and any cooperation in this regard would be considered a non-bailable offence with the offender liable to imprisonment for up to seven years.

The draft act has proposed empowerment of the Election Commission (EC) to carry out the task of preparation, distribution and preservation of NID cards, sources said quoting it.

According to a now defunct ordinance promulgated during the tenure of immediate past caretaker government, a separate national identity registration authority was supposed to be formed, and all citizens of the country were entitled to have NID card.

But the ordinance ceased to have effect on February 25 since it was not ratified by parliament within the timeframe specified in the constitution.

Officials in the EC Secretariat said NID cards prepared alongside preparation of the voter list remained unprotected, and it is difficult to take actions against making fake NID cards in the absence of necessary law.

The draft act provides for stern action against making fake NID cards, and destroying genuine ones.

Senior officials of the ministries of finance, law, and home, and of the EC discussed the draft at a meeting on Wednesday at the EC Secretariat.

“Now, we will send it to the law ministry for taking steps to make it a law,” a senior EC official told The Daily Star.

The draft act also proposes that the EC could collect fee for providing NID card, and an individual holding such card will have to renew it after 10 years.

Information collected during preparation and revision of voter list with photographs will be used as information for making NID cards. And according to the electoral rolls act 2009, every Bangladeshi citizen eligible for being registered as voter will be entitled to get NID card.

Asked about this, EC officials said it is not possible to give NID card to all citizens, particularly those below 18, which is the minimum age for being a voter.

The draft act provides that the government may make use of NID card mandatory for access to services and facilities in 17 fields.

It proposes that one will have to show NID card for getting a new passport or driving licence or their renewal, taxpayer identification number (TIN), business identification number, applying for jobs, opening bank account, getting bank loan, drawing government allowances, for trade licence, marriage registration, sale and purchase of land and properties, purchase of vehicles, gas, electricity, water and telephone connection and government facilities like subsidy and assistance.