Bangladeshi residents who are 16 or 17 years old will now be able to apply for registration to receive a National Identity Card (NID). The Election Commission (EC) will issue NIDs to them. When they turn 18, their names will automatically be added to the voter list.
This information surfaced through a circular issued on Sunday by the National Identity Registration Wing of the Election Commission Secretariat.
The circular states that the decision was made in accordance with Section 5 of the National Identity Registration Act, 2010 (amended in 2013). From now on, Bangladeshi citizens who have turned or will turn 16 or 17 years old on the date of application will be eligible to apply for registration.
The order, signed by Khan Abi Shahanur Khan, Director (Registration and Expatriates) of the National Identity Registration Wing, has been communicated to all relevant regional, district, and upazila election officers with instructions to implement it immediately.