Noman Mosharef :
About 1.1 million online applications submitted for getting National Identity Cards (NID) have not yet been attended for reason known to the officials. The pile of applications is getting bigger day by day.
Identification System for Enhancing Access to Services (IDEA-2) Project Director (PD) Brigadier General Abul Quasem Mohammad Fazlul Quader has revealed the information in a meeting chaired by Election Commission (EC) Secretary Md. Humayun Kabir Khandaker at the EC’s Agargoan office recently.
In the meeting, Faridpur and Khulna regional election officials have shared their experience saying that a significant number of residents used to come to the office without applicant copy. Besides, some people have applied online, but physically come to office and become voter. As a result online application heap is getting bigger.
System Manager (Technical) said, after fill up of online applications, Upazilla Election Officer certifies it. After that a message sent to the applicant on his mobile informing date and place with request to remain present physically for becoming a voter.
Without applicants physical appearance it would not be possible to become a voter, he added.
In the meeting, NID Wing Director General (DG) A K M Humayun Kabir said that after being informed of the applicant he/ she could not be presented in the office, then his/her application can be rejected.
NID DG has urged the field level election officials to solve the pending applications for disposal as early as possible.
He also thanked the Sylhet regional election officer for arranging a mass hearing programme for solving the NID problem and advised all to follow the system.
NID wing has got budget for distributing NID smart card, DG further said if the officials fail to solve the problem and distribute the smart cards, the allocated budget would go return.
In this regard, the IDEA-2 PD told the meeting that Tk 7.5 crore is left for the distribution of smart cards. He also emphasized fast-distribution of smart cards and demanded payment of bill vouchers.
AKM Humayun Kabir, said “I have given strict instructions in the field to expedite the disposal of the application.” Also, instructions have been given in the field to distribute smart cards in a short time.
