OTP Glitch Disrupts NID Services in Bangladesh
OTP Glitch Disrupts NID Services in Bangladesh. A major OTP glitch has caused the temporary suspension of NID services across Bangladesh, disrupting access to essential National Identity Card (NID) systems managed by the Bangladesh Election Commission (EC). The outage, which began around midday, is linked to a failure in the delivery of One-Time Passwords (OTPs) required to log into the secured NID server.
What Caused the NID Service Interruption?
According to ASM Humayun Kabir, Director General of the National Identity Registration Division, the issue originated from a malfunction in the OTP delivery system provided by a third-party service vendor. This system is critical for authentication when EC staff attempt to access the secure NID database.
“Our login procedure requires a user ID, password, and a valid OTP. While the first two credentials are working, the OTPs are not being delivered, which is preventing staff from logging in,” Humayun Kabir explained.
Although the NID server itself remains operational, the inability to complete the login due to missing OTPs has effectively paused all services that require server access.
Impact on NID Operations and Citizens
The disruption has halted several key services:
- Issuance of new NID cards
- Data updates for existing identity holders
- Digital verifications for financial and government-related services
- Online authentication for linked agencies
With the NID database housing records for over 125 million citizens, the impact is significant. Currently, 186 government and private organizations rely on data from the Election Commission’s NID system. These include banks, telecom companies, passport offices, and social service departments.
For example, activities such as opening a bank account, SIM registration, and applying for government benefits are directly affected by the NID verification system. Citizens trying to access these services will likely face delays until the issue is resolved.
Services Still Active Despite the Glitch
While access to the NID server has been restricted, some manual services continue without interruption. Officials are still:
- Capturing photographs of applicants
- Collecting biometric data
- Processing physical documents for backlog entries
These operations are being queued for system entry once the OTP-related access is restored.
Election Commission Assures Swift Resolution
System Manager Muhammad Ashraf Hossain of the NID Wing informed the public that engineers from the OTP service provider are actively working to resolve the issue.
“We expect the OTP system to be restored within a couple of hours,” he stated during a press briefing around 1:00 PM.
The Election Commission confirmed that the problem lies not within the NID infrastructure, but with the external OTP gateway purchased to run the system securely. Once the provider completes the necessary technical fixes, full-scale operations are expected to resume without data loss or compromise.
Wake-Up Call for Digital Infrastructure in Bangladesh
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the dependency on third-party digital infrastructure. As Bangladesh moves toward more digitally integrated governance, ensuring the reliability of key services like OTP authentication becomes paramount.
Cybersecurity experts and policy analysts are now advocating for:
- In-house OTP systems to reduce third-party dependency
- Backup authentication methods for critical public services
- Regular stress testing of digital identity frameworks
With Bangladesh’s Smart NID system becoming more deeply entrenched in both public and private sectors, ensuring uninterrupted service is not just a matter of convenience—it’s a national priority.
Conclusion
The temporary suspension of NID services due to an OTP failure has highlighted the vulnerabilities in our national digital ecosystem. While the Bangladesh Election Commission and its service providers are working swiftly to restore access, the incident has disrupted millions of citizens and several hundred organizations dependent on real-time NID verification.
