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“We will inform the government of our opinions in writing. We will inform them on an urgent basis,” the CEC says
Published : 06 Mar 2025, 05:12 PM
The officials and employees of the Election Commission Secretariat have staged a sit-in programme in front of the Chief Election Commissioner's office to demand that the National Identity Card service be placed under the Election Commission.
The EC officials and employees have announced a human chain protest on Mar 12 and a work stoppage from Mar 13 if there is no visible progress on the matter.
The protest was held at the Election Building in Dhaka’s Agargaon on Thursday amid the interim government's initiative to provide all services from one location.
The interim government has taken the initiative to form an independent commission to resolve the problems and complications related to birth registration, NID card services, and passport services.
To this end, work is underway to draft an ordinance called the 'Civil Registration (Commission) Act, 2025'. The Cabinet Division is also taking the opinions of the relevant departments, including the Ministry of Local Government, the Security Services Division, and the Health Services Division.
As the effort continues, officials and employees of the EC Secretariat have expressed their concerns to Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin on the matter.
The CEC assured the officials stationed in front of his office this afternoon, “I was not informed about a final decision being made. There have been discussions, perhaps policy issues are being considered. Discussions are underway on how it can be done.”
Highlighting that the EC’s position will be conveyed to the government in writing, he said, “When we were called to the meeting, we came to know [about the civil registration initiative]. An officer went to the meeting. The government may be thinking of providing services from one location. The commission is completely in agreement that the NID service is under the purview of the EC and will remain here.”
“We will inform the government of our opinions in writing. We will inform them on an urgent basis.”
Nasir said, “The NID is a byproduct of voter registration. EC officials have worked hard for 17 years, developing networks across the country. The government will definitely take these overall issues into consideration.”
“There may be a gap in information. After receiving the written opinion of the commission, that gap will be eliminated.”
The CEC said, “Our position on this matter is clear - we are doing this work with everyone’s consent.…I am not the ultimate decision maker. I represent the EC, I can speak on behalf of the EC. I can present my position to the government. The government is a superior entity. We are a constitutional body.”
“If the government makes the law, we have to obey the law. But we will urgently express our opinion in the process of making that law.”
Following the changeover in power, the EC Secretariat sent a letter urging the scrapping of the law that shifted the responsibility of the NID service from the EC to the Ministry of Home Affairs under the Awami League government.
If that law is scrapped in accordance with their demands, the NID service will remain in the hands of the EC, as it always did before.
After approving the proposal, the government will have to issue an ordinance scrapping the current law and reinstating the previous law.
On Jan 16, CEC Nasir said that the advisory council of the interim government had approved a proposal by the EC to keep NID services under its jurisdiction.
Meanwhile, the Election System Reform Commission recommended the government form an independent statutory body called the “National Identity Registration Agency” that would oversee birth registration, NID card services, and passport services.
Objecting to this, the CEC said on Jan 26, "Voter NID card, voter registration, which they suggested be handed over to an independent directorate/agency in the future... If I hand these over to another authority, will I have control over it? It is impossible."
