Noman Mosharef :
The jurisdiction of Election Commission (EC) has once again come under questions as the National Identity (NID) card scam is continuing posing a threat to maintaining privacy of citizens’ personal details.
Recently, an incident drew attention of the concerned responsible persons over the getting the NID by ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s nephew British Member of Parliament and a former City MinisterTulip Siddiq.
Currently, a statement by Tulip Siddiq has sparked debate over her citizenship status following the circulation of a viral video where she says, “I am not Bangladeshi, I am a British MP.”
Despite Siddiq’s verbal denial of Bangladeshi identity in the clip, official records tell a different story.
According to government documents, Tulip Siddiq holds a valid Bangladeshi National Identity Card (NID) issued on January 3, 2011. The NID, under the name Tulip RizwanaSiddiq, lists her father as Dr. Shafiq Ahmed Siddiq and her mother as RehanaSiddiq. The address provided corresponds to House 54, Road 5, Dhanmondi, Dhaka – commonly known as SudhaSadan, the family residence of Sheikh Hasina.
She is also registered as a Bangladeshi voter, with her latest voter information updated on December 19, 2024.
In addition to her NID, Tulip has held multiple Bangladeshi passports. Her first one was issued in London on September 17, 2001, listing her profession as “student” and her place of birth as London, UK. It was renewed in 2011 in Dhaka, where her emergency contact was listed as Tariq Ahmed Siddique, former Defence Adviser to the Prime Minister.
Before that, a lot of complaints were filed against the EC as its staffer were involved with NID forgery and indulge into corruption over the issue.
The detective branch (DB) of Chattogram metropolitan police detained 10 people on October 26 for their alleged involvement in delivering national identification (NID) cards to the Rohingyarefugees illegally in exchange of Tk 130,000 per head. Among the detainees, five are the data entry operators (contractual) of the election commission (EC).
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.
Considering various anomalies in NID sector, on May 24, the Cabinet Division wrote to the Secretaries of Security Division of the Home Ministry and the Election Commission (EC) to amend the National Identity Registration Act (JatiyoParichoypotroNibondonAin), 2010 and transfer the personnel and infrastructure used for providing NID services, which includes 594 server-stations, to the Security Division.
Later, the ousted Awami League (AL) government passed the National Identity Registration Bill-2023, in parliament on September 13.
The NID has yet to be transferred to the Security Services Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs as the staffers of EC has stand opposite on the decision.
