‘Provide NIDs to expatriates’

Speakers at a seminar in Dhaka today urged the election commission to provide National ID cards to the Bangladeshi expatriates on an immediate basis.

The Bangladeshi expatriates, who have machine readable passports, should be given priority to provide the NID cards, they underlined the need.

Speakers from various professions came up with the call while addressing a seminar organised by Election Commission on “NID distribution and voting rights of Bangladeshi expatriates” at a hotel in the capital.

Presenting keynote paper during the seminar, Brig Gen Mohammed Saidul Islam, EC's NID department director general, said,"There is a decision in principal to include expatriates as voters, but the decision will be taken through a scrutiny after completion of the 11th national election."

Prime Minister's Economic Affairs Advisor Moshiur Rahman welcomed the EC’s move and suggested the EC's NID department and MRP division to work jointly to providesmart card to the expatriates smoothly.

“Voting issue is a complex matteras there is a problem in enlisting voters who have dual citizenship. NID cards can be given to them,” he said.

BNP standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan said there is no relation between NID card and the voting rights of expatriates.

“Without being registered in voter list, a person will not be allowed to cast vote showing the NID. So expatriates should be provided with NID immediately," Khan said.

During the seminar, ambassadors from Italy, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, representatives from some foreign countries also put forward their opinions over the issue.

Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda, was also present in the programme.