Harassment over NID corrections decreased: EC Secretary

Election Commission (EC) Senior Secretary Akhter Ahmed has claimed that public harassment over National Identity Card (NID) corrections has decreased significantly, thanks to a recently implemented crash programme.

Speaking at a press briefing on Wednesday at the EC headquarters in Agargaon, Dhaka, the secretary highlighted the six-month progress of the program, which was launched to streamline NID correction services.

“At the beginning of this year, there were 378,806 unresolved correction requests. From January to June, 605,520 new applications were received. Of the total 984,356 applications, 907,662 have been resolved under the crash program,” he said.

Akhter noted that monthly applications have also dropped—from an average of 100,000 to around 80,000—indicating improved efficiency. As of now, 76,694 applications remain pending.

Historically, citizens have faced significant challenges and delays in the NID correction process. However, the EC Secretary believes these issues are being addressed. “We hope that soon, complaints of harassment will no longer persist,” he added.

The EC has also introduced a four-tier categorization system based on the extent of correction required. Applications are processed following document verification and hearings, ensuring timely resolution.

Since 2020, over 5.47 million correction requests have been submitted, with more than 5.39 million already resolved.

Addressing the issue of ‘locked’ NIDs—many of which belong to political figures following the August 5 movement—Akhter said, “NIDs may be locked for various reasons, mainly to prevent misuse. Even mine is reportedly locked. It's best not to delve into individuals’ personal data.”