Staff Reporter :
The Election Commission (EC) officials and employees have announced a two-hour demonstration programme across the country today (Thursday) demanding that the NID operations to be under the EC jurisdiction.
In the capital city, the sit-in programme will begin at 11:00am at the EC Secretariat, the National Identity Registration Wing, the Electoral Training Institute along with all field-level offices throughout the country.
Bangladesh Election Commission Officers’ Association Convener Monir Hossa announced the programme.
At a press conference in the capital’s EC building on Wednesday, Monir Hossain said their “Stand for NID” programme is for keeping the NID service under EC’s jurisdiction.
He said, “We have already submitted a memorandum in this regard. We wanted to see concrete steps. We have received some response from the commission, we have not seen any action yet from the government.
Earlier, we had announced that if our demand was not met by March 12, we would launch a programme.”
“We will stand in front of our offices. Naturally, while we are in protest, there will be no opportunity to work. We will have to stand without carrying out any official activities.”
While addressing the press conference, SM Asaduzzaman, director general (DG) of Electoral Training Institute, said, “We expect that the NID will remain with the EC.
Since 2010, different entities have accessed the NID server or database, yet everyone wants the NID to stay under the EC jurisdiction.”
Earlier on March 5, EC officials and employees observed a work stoppage to press home the same demand.
On March 4, the government took a decision in principle to establish a new independent commission, named “Civil Registration Commission,” to oversee all citizen registration services, including National Identity (NID) and birth registrations, according to officials concerned.
To facilitate the transfer of registration services, a draft ordinance – the Civil Registration (Commission), 2025 – has been formulated.
The initial meeting of an inter-ministerial committee for examining and providing opinions on the draft law took place on 3 March.
The additional secretary (law) of the Cabinet Division chaired the meeting.
The proposed the draft law includes overall coordination and development of the existing civil registration system by including birth, death, marriage, divorce and adoption registration of citizens and determination of cause of death, migration, healthcare and education data.
Besides, the commission will also be responsible for conducting national identity registration activities, preparation, distribution and maintenance of identity cards and performing all related responsibilities.
Furthermore, it will be responsible for the modernisation of integrated service delivery management based on unique ID, CRVS enterprise architecture, interoperability standards, and citizen core data structure.
Currently, the Election Commission manages NID services, while birth registration falls under the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives.
However, speaking to journalists on March 4, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM NasirUddin said NID services should remain under the EC.
“We have maintained this position since the reform commission’s report. It is a by-product of voter registration, and it should stay within our jurisdiction.”
He further stated that the government would make a well-considered decision, and the EC has already expressed its opinion in the initial meeting. “The commission will also submit its official stance in writing once they receive the meeting minutes.”
When asked whether the government should have consulted the EC before drafting the new law, the CEC pointed out that a previous attempt to transfer NID to the home ministry had failed after discussions with the government.
“This is a significant decision. Voter registration is ongoing, thousands of staff are working, and we are preparing for the upcoming national elections. I don’t think such a major change will be rushed without careful consideration,” he added.
