NID card services will soon extend to 16-year-olds: EC

EC secretary says cardholders will be automatically enlisted as voters when they reach 18

The Election Commission (EC) has decided to issue national identity (NID) cards to Bangladeshi citizens aged 16 and above.

A notification issued by the EC’s NID wing on Sunday directed field-level officials to begin registration for those who have reached 16 or 17 years of age.

Under the new directive, these younger citizens will be issued NID cards immediately and will be automatically enrolled as voters once they turn 18.

It cited Section 5 of the National Identity Registration Act, 2010, as the legal basis for the decision.

EC Secretary Akhtar Ahmed previously noted that providing NIDs to this age group is a practical necessity.

“Many citizens encounter challenges with essential services before they reach voting age,” he explained. “The cards are required for opening bank accounts, applying for passports, seeking medical treatment overseas, and pursuing education abroad.”

The EC clarified that there is no specific cut-off date for applications. Any citizen who has completed 16 years of age is now eligible to apply.

The NID system, which originated in 2008 for electoral purposes, has now evolved into a mandatory requirement for accessing over 20 government and private services in Bangladesh.