Dhaka:The Election Commission (EC) has taken decisive action following allegations of attempted fraud in the correction of National Identity Cards (NIDs) by individuals seeking to manipulate property sales, inheritance claims, and passport details.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A M M Nasir Uddin revealed that cases have been filed against numerous individuals, and several officials have been dismissed. Criminal proceedings have been initiated, and steps are being taken to arrest those involved. The CEC emphasized that no concessions will be given to those attempting to exploit the system.
The EC's stringent measures include suspending two officials, Kathalia Upazila Election Officer Md Ab. Sattar and Office Assistant Kamana Rani Sarkar, following proven allegations of NID fraud. The commission is also scrutinizing applications for discrepancies, such as minor age differences between family members and conflicting birth registration certificates.
The CEC highlighted concerns about foreign nationals and Rohingyas obtaining NIDs fraudulently by posing as Bangladeshi citizens. The EC is ensuring that all applications undergo thorough verification and investigation to prevent such occurrences.
Officials have reported that over 1.35 million correction applications have been rejected due to insufficient information and discrepancies in supporting documents. The EC is working to streamline NID services for expatriate Bangladeshis, with voter registration and NID services now available at several Bangladeshi embassies.
The EC continues to emphasize the importance of providing accurate information during voter registration to minimize the need for subsequent corrections, and it is committed to addressing issues faced by expatriates swiftly and efficiently.