Dhaka, Mar 04 (V7N) – Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin has emphasized that the National Identity Card (NID) service should remain under the Election Commission (EC), warning that removing it could disrupt the commission's work.

Speaking to journalists in front of his office at the Election Commission building on Tuesday (March 4), the CEC expressed concerns over the potential transfer of NID services.

Nasir Uddin stated that the EC has no official confirmation regarding the government’s decision to move the NID service. However, he acknowledged that the government is exploring whether all identification services can be managed from a single platform.

He added, “Our representative has already conveyed our position to the government. We expect that no decision will be taken without consulting us. If removing NID from the EC creates operational issues, we will communicate that in writing.”

The Awami League-led government had previously passed the National Identity Registration Act in 2023, placing NID services under the Ministry of Home Affairs. However, following the change in power, the EC Secretariat requested its repeal, leading to the law’s cancellation.

Recently, the Advisory Council directed the Cabinet Division to move forward with the ‘National Identity Registration Act (Repeal) Ordinance, 2025,’ and proposed creating a separate, autonomous Civil Registration Commission to oversee NID services.

As part of this process, the Cabinet Division convened an inter-ministerial meeting on March 3 to review the draft of the Civil Registration Commission Ordinance, 2025.

The possible transition has reportedly caused frustration among EC officials and employees. Some have verbally expressed their concerns to the Chief Election Commissioner, fearing that the move could impact voter registration and upcoming elections.

The CEC assured that the Election Commission would formally communicate its stance to the government to prevent any hasty decisions that could complicate the electoral process.

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