NID services halted for 2hrs as EC officials hold protest

Election Commission (EC) officials staged a demonstration in front of the EC Building today (13 March) in protest against the move to transfer NID services to a separate registration commission, resulting in the suspension of all NID services from 11am to 1pm.

The protesters demanded the repeal of the National Identity Registration Act, 2023, and the reinstatement of NID services under the EC control.

Manir Hossain, convener of the Election Commission Officers' Association, said if no progress is made on this issue by 18 March, they will hold a half-day operational halt from 9am to 12pm on 19 March.

Earlier, on Wednesday, EC officials had announced they would halt operations for two hours from 11am to 1pm and form a human chain outside the EC Building to demand the reinstatement of NID services under the EC.

Manir, also the deputy secretary of the EC Secretariat, said, "The voter list and NID services must remain within the same institution. The EC also wants the voter list under its control. However, the government has formed a separate commission for NID services.

He added, "We have submitted a memorandum to the chief election commissioner protesting this decision, and the EC has informed the government accordingly. However, we have yet to see any substantial response, which is why we are proceeding with the protest programme 'Stand for NID' today from 11am to 1pm."