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Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- - The Election Commission (EC) in Bangladesh processes approximately 958,000 applications annually for corrections to National Identity Cards (NIDs).
- Over six and a half years, the EC has handled 6.23 million applications, with about 150,000 still pending.
- A significant backlog exists in 'Gha' category corrections, which involve changes to dates of birth, ages, and parents' names, prompting the EC to form a committee to expedite these cases.
The Election Commission (EC) in Bangladesh is managing a substantial volume of applications for corrections to National Identity Cards (NIDs), processing an average of 958,000 requests each year. Since the introduction of its Card Management System in 2020, the EC has received over 6.37 million applications for NID modifications.
Over the past six and a half years, the commission has successfully disposed of 6.23 million applications. However, a backlog of approximately 150,000 applications remains. Of the applications processed, a majority, 4.93 million, were approved, while 1.29 million were rejected.
Gha cases were the most complicated to dispose of.
Correction applications are categorized into six types, with 'Gha' cases presenting the most complexity. These involve comprehensive changes to individuals' names, their parents' names, and crucially, dates of birth and ages. Officials noted that inconsistencies often arise when submitted supporting documents, such as passports or birth certificates, are cross-referenced with the requested age alterations.
To address the growing backlog, particularly in 'Gha' category applications, the EC established a four-member committee on July 16. This committee is tasked with recommending more efficient methods for processing these correction requests. The EC currently oversees a registered voter base of over 128 million citizens.
many applicants reapplied online for the same corrections even after their requests had been rejected five or six times, contributing to the backlog.
Originally published by Daily Star. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.