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From now on 16-year-old Bangladeshis can apply for National Identity Card (widely known as the NID) as per a new decision taken by the Election Commission (EC), Senior Secretary of the Commission Akhtar Ahmed said on Tuesday.
"It has been decided recently that those who have turned 16-year-old can now make registration for the NID," he said, adding that the document is required for many purposes.
"Students go for overseas study and open bank accounts; and also for treatment purpose NIDs have become very relevant," he added.
The top official disclosed the development while addressing reporters at a briefing held at the EC headquarters in the city's Agargaon area.
This would help the EC get some information in advance, he said.
He also said if the NID is lost, a citizen will no longer be required to file a general diary (GD) with respective police station.
"Earlier there was a provision to file a general diary in case the card was lost. We said that it was not needed," he said, explaining that the process was a time-consuming one.
Regarding the voting facilities for expatriates and people involved in polling activities or in legal custody within the country, he said two platforms-application and postal ballot system-- are getting ready for providing them with voting rights.
"We hope that the expatriates can cast their votes in the next parliamentary election, for which we are putting all-out efforts," he added.
He also said that moves were underway to finalise the registrations of new political parties.
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