Dhaka, Dec 22, (V7N) - The Election Commission (EC) has decided to cancel its agreement with the Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC) for providing National Identification (NID) data verification services due to a breach of the contract’s terms.

Details of the Contract and Breach
ASM Humayun Kabir, the Director General of the National Identity Registration Wing at the EC, revealed the termination during a press briefing at Nirbachan Bhaban on Sunday. Kabir explained that 183 government and private institutions are currently using the NID data verification service, with BCC being a major provider.

The bilateral agreement between the EC and BCC was signed on October 4, 2022. The contract clearly stated that BCC was prohibited from transferring, exchanging, selling, or providing NID data to any third party. However, BCC violated this clause, prompting the EC to take action.

Clarification Sought by EC
On September 3, the EC contacted BCC to request an explanation regarding the breach of the agreement. However, BCC’s response was deemed unsatisfactory. Despite being given a three-day deadline to resolve the issue from October 6, BCC failed to provide a satisfactory explanation.

Failure to Meet Payment Deadlines
The contract also outlined specific terms regarding payment deadlines. According to the agreement, failure to pay the agreed fees within the specified time frame would lead to the termination of the contract. Since BCC did not meet these payment conditions, the EC decided to end the agreement.

Termination of API Connection
Following the cancellation of the contract, the EC has severed the API connection with BCC, ending their access to the NID data verification service. Furthermore, BCC has been instructed to clear all outstanding dues within 15 days from the notice.

This action reflects the EC’s commitment to ensuring the integrity and security of the NID system, preventing unauthorized access and misuse of sensitive data.

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