Dhaka: The Election Commission (EC) has implemented a new requirement mandating the inclusion of Secondary School Certificate (SSC) or equivalent certificates in the voter registration database to ensure the accuracy of personal information.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the directive was formalized through an office order signed by Md Saiful Islam, Director (Operations) of the National Identity Registration Wing of the EC. The order mandates all upazila and thana election registration officers nationwide to require SSC or equivalent certificates, particularly for verifying information like dates of birth during corrections to National Identity (NID) cards.
The order highlighted a recurring issue where SSC or equivalent certificates were not being attached to the database, despite applicants having secondary or higher educational qualifications. This omission has led to complications in verifying information during NID correction processes, making decision-making challenging.
Moreover, the order noted instances where applicants deny their educational qualifications despite the existence of proof, causing unexpected situations between officials and applicants and tarnishing the Election Commission’s image. To address this, the EC has directed that registration officers must ensure SSC or equivalent certificates, including date of birth, are attached to the database for individuals who have completed secondary or higher education levels.
The directive also applies to individuals with higher qualifications, such as Higher Secondary, undergraduate, postgraduate, MPhil, or PhD, requiring their SSC or equivalent certificate to be included in the database. Additionally, hard copies of the SSC or equivalent certificate, alongside other relevant documents, must be preserved at the respective offices.
District Election Officers and Regional Election Officers have been instructed to oversee the implementation of this directive through inspections and random checks to ensure compliance.