Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin said that they would strongly urge the government to keep the national identity services under the election commission鈥檚 control.
鈥榃e will strongly voice our opinions in the law-making process. Wherever opinions are needed, we will give [opinions]. Our entire commission wants this,鈥� he said.
The CEC was talking to reporters following a sit-in programme of EC employees and officials in front of his office room at the Nirbachan Bhaban in Dhaka.
The EC staff were protesting against a fresh move initiated by the current government to enact a law for bringing a number of civic services, including birth registration and national identity registration services, under a single entity named the 鈥楥ivil Registration Commission鈥�.
They also gave a seven-day ultimatum to go on fresh programme unless any visible step is taken to over the issue by March 12.
Nasir Uddin said that he did not hear that the government had already finalised its decision to remove the NID operation from the election commission rather there had been discussions. 鈥榃e will inform the government in writing that it should stay under the EC.鈥�
Earlier, a meeting of the inter-ministerial committee was held in the cabinet division on Monday to review the draft of the 鈥楥ivil Registration (Commission) Ordinance, 2025鈥�.
A representative from the EC secretariat was also present at the additional secretary-level meeting.
Replying to a question, the CEC said that he heard that the government perhaps was thinking to provide all kinds of services from one place but the NID services would remain under the jurisdiction of the election commission.
鈥楴ID is a by-product of voter registration operation and the EC officials have worked hard for 17 years, developing the NID network across the country. The government will definitely take all the issues into consideration. There may be a gap in information. After receiving the written opinion of the commission, this gap will definitely not be there.鈥�
He said that their position on this matter was clear and they were working on the basis of everyone鈥檚 consent.
The CEC, however, said that he was not the ultimate decision maker. 鈥業 represent the EC鈥 can speak on behalf of the EC. I can create a position before the government....we are a constitutional body. If the government makes a law, we have to obey the law. But we will urgently raise our opinion in the law-making process.鈥�
About the EC officials鈥� concern and programme, director general of electoral training institute SM Asaduzzaman expected that the commission would take all initiatives to ensure that the NID operation was not shifted from the EC. 鈥業f so, we will be with the EC.鈥�
He said that if the NID operation would go from the EC鈥檚 jurisdiction, the elections would be under threat. 鈥榃e have submitted a memorandum [to the CEC] expressing our concerns.鈥�
Convener of Bangladesh Election Commission Officers Association Mohammad Monir Hossain said that there were several attempts before on several occasions to move the NID services from the EC鈥檚 authority.
鈥榃e think that these things are being done for some purposes. We have announced a programme on behalf of the association. We have informed the commission, given time, and expect visible progress by next Wednesday. Otherwise, officials and employees across the country, including the EC secretariat, will go form human chains from 11:00am to 1:00pm on March 13. Even then if our demands are not met, we will go on a more stringent programme, including a work abstention,鈥� he added.
