EC Faces Crisis Over Surge in Unreasonable NID Correction Applications
EC Faces Crisis Over Surge in Unreasonable NID Correction Applications. The Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh is currently facing a crisis due to the rising number of unreasonable NID correction applications submitted by citizens attempting to manipulate their birth year for personal gain. This alarming trend has sparked confusion within the EC, disrupted the National Identity Database, and raised serious concerns about data integrity and legal inconsistencies.
Rising Trend of Birth Year Manipulation in NID Corrections
Recently, there has been a noticeable surge in applications to change birth years on the Bangladesh National Identity Card (NID). Many of these requests are not only illogical but also contradict established government records. A deep analysis of such cases has revealed attempts to reduce ages in order to qualify for government jobs, gain admission to educational institutions, or secure foreign travel benefits.
For example, Nizam Uddin, a registered voter since 2007, originally listed 1986 as his birth year. Now, using a birth certificate issued in 2018 and a passport from 2023, he seeks to change his birth year to 2001. Approval of this change would imply that he was only six years old when he became a voter, a clear legal and factual impossibility.
Similarly, Azharul Islam Mahbub, whose NID shows 1989 as his birth year, has applied to change it to 2005. Adding him to the voter list in 2007 would have made him only two years old. This violates legal eligibility standards and signals potential voter fraud.
Another case involves Md. Moin Uddin, currently registered with 1984 as his birth year. He now claims he was born in 2004, supported by a Dakhil Pass certificate dated 2024. If accepted, it would mean he became a voter at just three years old.
These examples emphasize how important it is to review the Bangladesh NID correction process and enforce stronger safeguards.
Data Fraud Through Academic Certificates
The fraud does not end with fake or misleading birth certificates. Some applicants are now submitting educational certificates to support their claims. Gaus Uddin, for instance, became a voter in 2009 with 1991 as his registered birth year. He recently submitted a secondary school certificate from the Technical Board dated 2017, asserting that his correct birth year is 2008. This would suggest he passed secondary school at the age of one year, an outright fabrication that points to clear data fraud.
According to EC insiders, dozens of similar cases have emerged. Some individuals are repeatedly altering their birth records by creating new certificates and submitting fresh applications. This not only overwhelms the EC with unjustified NID correction requests, but it also delays the processing of genuine applications from citizens needing legitimate changes.
Impact on the NID System and Legal Implications
The Election Commission of Bangladesh is experiencing growing difficulty in managing the chaotic inflow of age correction applications. Officials state that these requests create confusion in the NID database and cause delays in services. A senior EC official remarked:
“We are seeing a dramatic rise in fake and unreasonable correction applications. People who need genuine corrections are getting lost in the crowd. This is creating major disruptions.”
The EC believes the primary motives behind these unreasonable NID applications include:
- Lowering age to meet eligibility for government employment
- Adjusting age for foreign visa requirements
- Meeting education entry requirements
- Hiding previous legal records or identity inconsistencies
Although the EC shows flexibility in the cases of Bangladeshi citizens living abroad or those working in foreign countries, the current volume of manipulation attempts is causing operational delays.
Official Reactions and Upcoming Reforms
In response to the issue, ASM Humayun Kabir, Director General of the EC National Identity Registration Division, told DhakaMail:
“No application is unreasonable to me. As a citizen, anyone has the right to apply for correction. However, we are witnessing cases where people apply without valid justification. We are planning to introduce stricter rules to curb this practice.”
Another senior EC official, speaking on condition of anonymity, added:
“Most of the submitted documents, including newly generated birth and education certificates, do not match with existing records such as voter lists or previous academic transcripts. These discrepancies raise serious doubts.”
Need for Accountability and Technological Reforms
Analysts believe that without implementing accountability mechanisms and adopting a technology-driven verification process, such fraudulent activities will continue. They advocate for automated document verification systems and inter-agency data sharing to minimize identity manipulation.
Legal Framework for NID Corrections in Bangladesh
The National Identity Registration Act provides legal guidelines for data corrections:
- Section 9: Citizens can request data corrections through a formal application, and the registrar may approve corrections with or without fees, depending on the context.
- Section 18: Any person knowingly submitting false or misleading information for NID issuance or correction can face one year imprisonment, a fine of BDT 20,000, or both.
This legal framework was designed to preserve the integrity of national identity data. However, enforcement has been weak, especially in light of rising fraudulent activity.
Alarming Statistics
As of the latest update, the total number of registered voters in Bangladesh stands at 123,032,274. With such a massive population dependent on the NID system for voting, banking, education, travel, and job applications, data integrity is critical.
Conclusion
The surge in unreasonable NID correction applications threatens not only the credibility of the Election Commission but also the trust of citizens in national identity systems
