The National Identity Registration
Bill, 2023, today passed in Jatiya Sangsad on Wednesday to transfer the
national identity registration operation from the Election Commission to the
Security Services Division of the home ministry.
Home minister Asaduzzaman Khan moved the bill which was unanimously passed by
voice votes in the House with Deputy Speaker Shamsul Huq Tuku in the chair.
As per the bill, the NID registration operation will be under the Security
Services Division of the home ministry.
Immediately after the birth, every national shall have the right to get a
birth certificate or a unique number, which will remain unchangeable.
The Election Commission will prepare the voter list for nationals aged above
18 years.
If a citizen, for the purpose of obtaining a national identity card,
intentionally or knowingly furnishes any false information or conceals
information, the individual could be imprisoned for one year, fined up to
Taka 20,000, or given both punishments, according to the bill.
A similar punishment can be given for knowingly using more than one NID card.
Anyone involved in the NID issue process could be jailed for up to seven
years and fined Taka 1 lakh for intentionally defacing or destroying any
information relating to NID cards, according to the bill.
Any person distorting or destroying any information mentioned in the NID card
for dishonest purposes would be jailed for a maximum of two years or fined
Taka 40,000, or they could be given both punishments as per the bill.
For unauthorized access to data or illegal use of data, the bill stipulates a
maximum jail sentence of five years or a fine of up to Taka 50,000 or both.
Unauthorized disclosure of information will invite similar punishment,
according to the bill.
The bill also made forging a national identity card or knowingly carrying
such a card punishable by seven years in jail, Taka 1 lakh in fine, or both.
Assisting such forgery was made equally punishable.
Any person possessing or carrying the national identity card of another
citizen without reasonable cause was also made punishable in the bill for one
year in jail, Taka 20,000 in fine, or both.
The EC has been conducting the national identity registration operation and
issuing national identity cards to citizens aged 18 or above since 2007, as
per the National Identity Registration Act, 2010.
Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha