Shawdesh desk:

The Cabinet approved in principle the draft of National Identity Registration Act, 2022 aiming to bring the national identity registration operation under the Security Services Division from the Election Commission and introduce a unique identity number against every national of the country.

The approval was taken at the regular cabinet meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair held at her office.

“The decision was taken to bring it under the Security Services Division, which handles the passport (operation). There would ultimately be a unique identity (against each national),” said Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam while briefing reporters after the meeting.

He said the birth registration number of a person will be used in his/her passport, NID and other documents.

Anwarul said now the decision has been taken to bring the NID registration under the supervision of the government as the original concept (of the EC), which was floated in December 1996, was the preparation of voter cards not NID cards. “The basic concept was related to elections,” he added.

The Election Commission currently conducts the national identity registration operation and issues the national identity cards against the nationals aged 18 or above since 2007 as per the National Identity Registration Act, 2010.

“It (the draft law) has been approved in principle. But the condition is that the Legislative Division will consult with all the concerned,” said the Cabinet Secretary.

He said the Legislative Division was asked to review the draft law on the basis of the existing law as much as possible and bring it against adding just a few clauses if needed.

Anwarul Islam said the Cabinet opined that the existing law is quite good. Security Services Division placed the bill at the cabinet meeting.