Election Commission sets new age limit for obtaining NID, not 18

The Bangladesh Election Commission has announced a new decision regarding the minimum age for obtaining a National Identity Card (NID). From now on, Bangladeshi citizens aged 16 or 17 will be eligible to apply for NID registration. However, their names will be automatically included in the voter list once they turn 18.

The information was disclosed in a circular issued on Sunday (22 February) by the National Identity Registration Wing of the Election Commission Secretariat.

According to the circular, the decision has been taken in accordance with Section 5 of the National Identity Registration Act, 2010 (amended in 2013). Citizens who have reached or will reach the age of 16 or 17 on the date of application are now eligible to apply for registration.

The directive, signed by Director (Registration and Expatriates) Khan Abi Shahanur Khan of the National Identity Registration Wing, has been communicated to all regional, district, and উপজেলা election officers with instructions for immediate implementation.

Under this new policy, young citizens will be able to obtain their National Identity Cards earlier, although they will only be eligible to exercise their voting rights upon reaching the age of 18.