EC moves to reclaim NID services from home ministry

It seeks to undo changes made during the Awami League’s tenure

The Election Commission, or EC, has renewed its efforts to retain control over the National ID, or NID, services.

Despite objections from the EC, the Awami League government passed a new law last year placing NID services under the home ministry.

The EC has now called for the cancellation of this law to ensure the NID services remain under its authority.

On Tuesday, a semi-official letter was sent to Nasimul Gani, the senior secretary of the President’s Office.

The letter said the chief election commissioner, before resigning on Sept 5, had approved the reconsideration of the decision to transfer NID activities to the Security Services Division and the repeal of the National Identity Registration Act, 2023.

EC Secretary Shafiul Azim said, “Officials at the Election Commission Secretariat had submitted a memorandum on the matter. Before the chief commissioner’s resignation, a decision was made to send a DO letter to the senior secretary at the President’s Office. As secretary, I carried out that decision.”