NID Will Be Given After Birth to the Ministry of Home Affairs

NID Will Be Given After Birth to the Ministry of Home Affairs. The government of Bangladesh has taken a significant step towards modernizing and streamlining the process of identity management with the approval of the National Identity Registration Act 2023.

This new law, which has been under consideration for some time, introduces several key changes aimed at ensuring that every citizen receives a unique National Identity (NID) from birth, simplifying the process of identity verification, and reducing the bureaucratic burden on citizens.

On June 12, 2023, the Cabinet of Bangladesh, in a meeting held at the Prime Minister’s Office, gave its final approval to the draft of the National Identity Registration Act 2023.

This approval marks the culmination of extensive deliberations and reflects the government’s commitment to enhancing the efficiency and security of the national identity system.

One of the most notable changes introduced by this Act is the transfer of responsibility for NID registration from the Election Commission to a new institution under the Ministry of Home Affairs.

This new institution will operate under the Security Service Department of the Ministry, which will now be the primary authority responsible for issuing and managing National Identity Cards.

Under the new Act, a Registrar’s Office will be established, along with the appointment of a Registrar, who will oversee the registration process.

While the specific details regarding the structure and location of the Registrar’s Office—whether it will be based at the upazila (sub-district) or union level—are yet to be determined, these decisions will be made once the institution is fully established and operational.

A groundbreaking feature of the National Identity Registration Act 2023 is the introduction of a Unique Identity Number (UID) that will be issued to every citizen immediately after birth. This UID will serve as a lifelong identifier, remaining unchanged throughout a citizen’s life.

By providing a consistent and unalterable identity number, the government aims to eliminate the inconsistencies and complications that often arise from the use of multiple identification documents, such as birth certificates, NIDs, and passports.

The role of the Election Commission under this new legislation will be significantly reduced. The Commission’s responsibilities will now be confined to the preparation of the voter list, which will be generated from the NID database.

Only those citizens who are 18 years of age or older will be included in the voter list, ensuring that the process of voter registration is streamlined and accurate.

One of the challenges that the government faces in implementing this new system is the transfer of NID information from the Election Commission’s servers to the newly established National Identity Registrar Office.

This process, which is technically complex, will require careful planning and execution to ensure a smooth transition.

Importantly, the Act stipulates that it will not come into effect immediately upon being gazetted. Instead, the government will announce a specific date from which the law will be enforced, allowing time for the necessary infrastructure and processes to be put in place.

The introduction of the National Identity Registration Act 2023 is a landmark development in Bangladesh efforts to create a more efficient and secure identity management system.

By assigning a unique and permanent identity number to every citizen from birth, the government aims to reduce the administrative burden on citizens and eliminate the potential for errors and complications in personal identification.