EC settles 64 lakh NID correction applications

The Election Commission (EC) has settled 6,442,832 applications for correcting national identity card (NID) information, leaving 128,010 pending as of 18 October, according to updated data from its National Identity Registration Wing.

Of the 6,570,842 applications submitted, 13,555,157 applications have also been rejected for various reasons.

Officials said applications submitted up to 2024 had been settled, while the disposal of applications received in 2025 was nearing completion. However, around 80,000 to 90,000 new applications are submitted every month, leaving some cases pending.

To speed up the process, the commission has introduced deadlines, expanded the authority of officials at upazila and district levels, and strengthened supervision by senior officials. It is also focusing on screening unreasonable applications and preventing NID-related fraud.

According to EC data, 68,269 applications under category ‘Gha’ for 2026 were awaiting disposal. Including 983 pending applications under the same category from 2025, the total stood at 69,252.

Region-wise, Dhaka had 10,615 pending applications, followed by Cumilla with 10,559. Mymensingh had 8,332, Rajshahi 6,875, Chattogram 6,688, Sylhet 6,469, Khulna 5,871, Faridpur 5,140, Rangpur 4,477 and Barishal 4,226.

EC Secretariat Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed said accuracy was being prioritised in the disposal process. He added that unreasonable applications were being scrutinised and rejected, while efforts were under way to settle every application within the stipulated timeframe.

For date-of-birth corrections, the commission is prioritising online-verifiable Junior School Certificate (JSC), secondary or equivalent examination certificates.

Under a circular issued on 13 August, applications for corrections based on these certificates can be placed in category ‘Ka’ and settled by the relevant upazila or thana election officer. Certificates issued by the Bangladesh Open University are not eligible under this provision.

The instructions also require regional election officers to monitor the work of officials under their supervision. In addition, at least three applications handled by each officer responsible for settling cases must be checked randomly every month, with a report submitted to the authorities.

Mohammad Saiful Islam, director (operations) of the National Identity Registration Wing, said some age-correction applications showed a gap of only 10 years between a father and his child. In other cases, corrections resulted in a person's age falling below 18 at the time of voter registration.

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Such inconsistencies lead to the rejection of applications, he said, adding that some applicants also tended to submit fresh applications under a different category after their initial applications had been rejected.

The EC has also adopted a firm stance against NID-related fraud, Akhtar Ahmed said. Those accused of fraud are being handed over to law enforcement agencies when allegations are received. Administrative action is also being taken against commission officials and employees found to be involved.

The commission is examining the possibility of introducing technology-based measures to prevent fraud. Officials believe that strengthening verification at the initial registration stage, alongside faster disposal of correction applications, could reduce the need for corrections in the future.