Dhaka: Election Commission’s (EC) National Identity (NID) Registration Wing chief today said they wanted the government to make mandatory the submission of NID data for employment in public jobs for undisrupted processing of their salaries and benefits.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, NID wing’s director general ASM Humayun Kabir told reporters that the EC wanted the provision to be made mandatory for applicants to submit their NID data in line with a law related to national identity card. “We seek all government organizations and agencies to make it mandatory,” Kabir said.
He noted that in recent months, many government employees were exposed to troubles with the introduction of the Integrated Budget and Accounting System (iBAS) that requires accurate NID data in processing their salaries. Previously, public employees received their salaries through vouchers, which did not necessitate NID information.
Kabir explained that under the iBAS system, if the employees’ service information does not match with the NID data, the concerned offices could not process their salaries. This situation forces many to approach the NID wing to correct their NID data, with a large part of applicants who seek correction being government employees.
The official emphasized that if NID data submission was made mandatory during recruitment or appointment, such problems would not occur. So far, information in the SSC certificate has been given more importance in public administration than NID data.
Kabir’s briefing followed an EC meeting with 27 ministries and agencies, including the Public Administration Ministry, to explain the necessity of the new provision. EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed presided over the meeting.