EC to issue NIDs to 16-year-olds

The Election Commission (EC) has decided to issue National Identity (NID) cards to Bangladeshi citizens aged 16 and above in a move aimed at helping them avoid the difficulties they often face due to the lack of the document.
The commission issued a letter in this regard on Sunday, signed by NID Wing Director Khan Abi Shahanur Khan.
The letter stated that Bangladeshi citizens who have reached, or will soon reach, the age of 16 or 17 on the date of application are eligible to apply for NIDs.
However, the issuance of NID cards to minors will not grant immediate voting rights; they will be enrolled in the electoral roll only upon reaching the age of 18, according to the letter.

EC Secretary Akhtar Ahmed recently said that any citizen aged 16 or above can apply for NID registration. 
“This will allow us to store their preliminary data in advance, and they will receive their NID cards,” he said.
The secretary noted that the initiative would reduce the difficulties citizens often face due to the absence of an NID.
According to the Election Commission’s latest figures, the country has more than 12.77 crore registered voters.