Youths aged 16 and above will now be able to obtain national identity (NID) services and cards following a decision by the Election Commission (EC).
The EC on Sunday issued a notification directing field-level officials to extend NID services to Bangladeshi citizens aged 16 and 17.
Since the introduction of NID registration in 2008, only citizens aged at least 18 have been eligible for NID services and cards.
“The Election Commission has decided to conduct registration activities for Bangladeshi citizens who have completed 16 or 17 years of age on the date of application, in line with Article 5 of the National Identity Registration (Amendment) Act, 2010,” the notification said.
The directive was sent to the Director General of the NID Registration Wing, regional election officers, district election officers and upazila or thana election officers.
The EC introduced the NID card in 2008 while preparing electoral rolls with photographs ahead of the ninth parliamentary election.
Initially, laminated NID cards were issued to citizens aged 18 and above, while smart NID cards began to be distributed in 2016.
NID cards are required to access various government and private services, including opening bank accounts, obtaining passports and driving licences, registering SIM cards and securing land-related services.
