Staff Reporter :
The Election Commission (EC) has started issuing special Smart National Identity Card (NID) emblazoned with “Bir Muktijoddha” words among heroic Freedom Fighters.
The programme was inaugurated in a city hotel on Sunday chaired by outgoing Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) KM Nurul Huda and Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Anisul Huq present as a chief guest.
They also launched the compilations of the Bangla version of the Representation of the People Order (RPO), 1972, and the Parliamentary Constituency Boundary Delimitation Act, 2021.
In the inaugurated programme, Law Minister handed over the first special NID card to former minister and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leader Barrister Shajahan Omar. Textiles and Jute Minister Golam Dastagir Gazi was also awarded by the special NID card.
In the programme about 100 special NID cards were given to hundred heroic Freedom Fighters.
Gradually all the Freedom Fighters will get the special Smart National Identity Card (NID) emblazoned with “Bir Muktijoddha.
It should be noted there are 1, 83, 560 gazette Freedom Fighter in the country. Speaking as the chief guest on the occasion, Law Minister Anisul Huq said that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will co-operate with the Election Commission (EC) as long as she is in power.
“The government of Sheikh Hasina believes that elections are the foundation of democracy and that is why her government is cooperating in all possible ways to strengthen the Election Commission for holding free, fair and impartial elections,” the minister said.
“The fruits of which are today’s smart national identity card, accurate voter list, electronic voting machine (EVM), the modern infrastructure of Election Commission, Delimitation of Constituencies Bill 2021, and the Appointment of Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners Bill-2022,” he added.
He also remarked that the Election Commission had been able to fulfill its responsibilities properly.
Regarding the EC appointment law, the law minister said, “Parliament has made this law with the participation of all. The search committee is working in the context of the law. We hope that at the end of their tenure, everyone will get an acceptable election commission.”
He also called the BNP’s non-participation in the talks ‘undemocratic’.
Presided over by EC Secretary Md Humayun Kabir, the function was also addressed by election commissioners Rafikul Islam and Kabita Khanom, among others.
