The Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh has decided to display fingerprints beneath the photographs on the National Identity Cards (NIDs) of illiterate citizens. This decision aims to resolve issues surrounding signatures on NIDs for individuals unable to write, ensuring a reliable method of identification. The EC has instructed its system manager to take necessary steps to implement this change, with instructions also communicated to the Director of NID Operations.
The directive issued by NID Director General Md. Mahbub Alam Talukder states that vacant posts due to transfers in any upazila must be filled by assigning additional duties or by appointing alternate officers as per the district election officer’s proposal. The directive emphasizes the importance of avoiding vacant positions.
Other measures include addressing entry issues with the postal service for new voter registrations, maintaining new voter identifiers in the NID database, and expediting investigation resolutions. Additionally, for illiterate citizens, a fingerprint will be displayed under the photo on their NIDs, applications for voter relocation will require the applicant’s physical presence, and issues with birth certificates printed abroad due to font errors will be addressed.
Officials noted that many illiterate citizens face challenges with signatures on their NIDs, leading to mismatches in records. This new fingerprint policy aims to ensure accurate identification for illiterate citizens without reliance on signatures.
