Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud has said that it is reasonable for the National Identity Card (NID) activities to remain under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
He made the remark in response to a question from journalists at the National Press Club in the capital on Monday.
The information minister said, “National identity card is a regular procedure. NID cards are issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs in all countries of the world. Therefore, it is appropriate and logical that the national identity card activities of Bangladesh remain under the Ministry of Home Affairs.”
He further said, national identity cards and voter ID cards are not the same thing. National identity cards are issued from birth till death. All the citizens of the country are given this national identity card. The Election Commission works with the voter list.
“When NID was a project to compile the voter list, it was under the Election Commission and it was logical. When it comes to national identity cards, it is logical that it remains under the government or under the Ministry of Home Affairs, as in all countries of the world”, he added.
He mentioned that the data for issuing national identity cards are collected by the Ministry of Home Affairs. Those living abroad are given passports and national identity cards by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
“The decision that has been made here is as logical as any other country in the world. The concerns raised by the Election Commission are unfounded”, he said.