EC officials to go on strike over NID job rift

Officials of the Election Commission (EC) have threatened a work abstention if their demand to keep NID services under the EC is not met within December 4.

The EC officials under the banner of Bangladesh Election Commission Officers Association on Tuesday also demanded steps to fulfil vacant posts at the EC and that the authorities stop sending government officials on deputation to the EC secretariat.

They placed their demand by submitting separate memorandums to Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal and EC Secretariat Secretary Jahangir Alam.

The association secretary, Mohammad Hasanuzzaman, said they would hold a "black badge" programme on December 5 and will hold half-day work abstention on December 8.

The EC secretary said shifting NID activities is a government decision. "The commission has already clarified its statement. We have to implement what the government implements. The association officials also agreed with this," he said.

Replying to a question on whether it is possible to fulfil these demands by Sunday, the EC secretary said, "Only those who have demanded it will be able to say that if it is possible by Sunday. It is a long process", he added.

In October, the cabinet approved in principle the draft of the National Identity Registration Act-2022, aiming to give the job of issuing national identity (NID) cards to the home ministry.

In May 2021, the Prime Minister's Office instructed the cabinet division to take necessary steps in this regard.

Since then, EC officials haves been expressing concern about the issue and is also demanding to keep NID services under the EC.

The association said it is logical that NID services are provided by the EC as the NID card is being prepared by taking inputs from the database of the voter list.

Preparing the voter list and NID cards are integrally related, which also saves public money, it added