Tarique, Zaima complete registration process, EC to decide on voter list inclusion tomorrow
Tarique is expected to receive his NID card within 24 hours of completing his voter registration, says ASM Humayun Kabir, director general of the National Identity Registration Wing of the Election Commission.
BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman and his daughter Zaima Rahman completed their voter registration process at the Electoral Training Institute (ETI) in Agargaon this afternoon (27 December).
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Their voter documents will be placed before the commission tomorrow, following which the Election Commission will decide on their inclusion in the national voter list, said EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed.
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Escorted by a high-security motorcade, Tarique entered the ETI building at around 1pm. His wife, Dr Zubaida Rahman, and their daughter, Zaima Rahman, had arrived earlier at approximately 12:20pm to complete Zaima's registration formalities.
Tarique provided his fingerprints and iris scans for biometric enrolment at the EC office. He had previously completed his voter registration application online.
Zaima Rahman was the first to complete the procedure. She left the EC premises at around 12:45pm, while Tarique left at about 1:20pm.
Tarique is expected to receive his National Identity (NID) card within 24 hours of completing his voter registration, ASM Humayun Kabir, director general of the National Identity Registration Wing of the Election Commission, said today.
"Tarique Rahman has already filled out the online form and has come to complete the registration by providing his fingerprints and iris scan," he said while speaking to reporters.
"The software will automatically verify his information against existing records. If no match is found, the NID number will be generated within five to 24 hours," he added.
Besides, he said, an SMS will be sent to Tarique's phone, from which he can also download the NID.
Procedural timelines and legalities
The commission is set to deliberate tomorrow (28 December) on the voter registration of Tarique Rahman and his daughter Zaima Rahman, following their completion of biometric formalities.
EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed confirmed that both have applied for inclusion in the voter list under Ward 19 (Gulshan area) of the Dhaka-17 constituency.
Speaking to reporters at the EC building, the secretary explained that while the biometrics have been collected, the formal inclusion in the voter list requires commission approval.
"Under Section 15 of the Electoral Roll Act 2009, the [Election] Commission has the jurisdiction to register any adult or eligible person as a voter," he said, noting that the technical process — matching fingerprints, signatures, and iris scans — would likely be completed within today.
Once confirmed, a National Identity (NID) number will be generated.
However, the final step remains with the commissioners.
"The documents will be presented before the commission tomorrow. Whether the decision is made through a formal meeting or a file-based approval process rests entirely with the commission's discretion," Ahmed added.
The secretary highlighted that while registration is an ongoing process, the inclusion in the voter list is particularly significant given the upcoming general elections.
"My responsibility is to present the matter to the commission, which I will do tomorrow," he stated.
Previously, foolproof security measures were taken in and around the building ahead of the arrival of Tarique.
Members of the Bangladesh Army, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), and Ansar were deployed in and around the EC building and the Election Training Institute, while police were stationed outside the EC premises.
Earlier today, Tarique Rahman entered the Dhaka University campus at approximately 11:15am to visit the grave of Osman Hadi, who was fatally shot earlier this month. He offered prayers and laid a floral wreath as a mark of respect for the late youth leader.
The visit drew a massive crowd of party activists and Chhatra Dal members, who lined the streets from Shahbagh to the DU Faculty of Fine Arts. Law enforcement agencies, including the Police, RAB, and BGB, had been deployed in heavy numbers to manage the dense crowd.
Tarique's motorcade departed the university area at 11:52am, navigating slowly through the surge of supporters.
Schedule updates
While Tarique had been initially scheduled to visit the National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation (Nitor) today, the BNP Media Cell announced the cancellation of the programme. The decision was made following reports that no patients from the July Uprising are currently admitted at the facility.
Tarique's return to the country on 25 December ended a 17-year period of exile in London. Since his homecoming, his schedule has been dominated by visits and organisational activities.
