Last Change:
12/24/2024
The National Identity Registration Act
Year: 2023
Type: Domestic law
Rights Category: Liberty & security of person, Documentation
Description
The law of 2023 repealed the earlier act of 2010. This law is very clear to indicate that the national identity document is only for the citizens of Bangladesh. As per section 11, national identity as a Bangladeshi can be cancelled if for some reason the citizenship status of the concerned person is cancelled as well. Section 18 states that if any person misrepresents or fraudulently obtains the NID, he/she will be punishable under this law with at least one-year imprisonment and/or a maximum of 20 thousand taka fine. As per section 19, having more than one NID is also a crime and punishable with a maximum of one year imprisonment and/or 20 thousand taka fine. As per section 21- offences under this act are cognizable, non-compoundable and bailable.
Selected provisions
In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context,-
(1) “National Identity Card” means the National Identity Card issued to a citizen by the Registrar;
(2) “National Identification Number (NID)” means the identification number assigned by the Registrar to the National Identity Card;
(9) “Biometrics feature” means one or more of the following features of a citizen, namely:-
(a) Finger print,
(b) Hand Geometry,
(c) Palm Print,
(d) Iris,
(e) Facial Recognition,
(f) DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid),
(g) Signature,
(h) Voice, and
(j) any other feature prescribed by the Government, by notification in the Official Gazette, from time to time;
(1) Every citizen shall register his identity to obtain a national identity card.
(2) An application shall be made to the Registrar in the prescribed manner for registration of identity.
(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in other provisions of this Act, in general, for the purpose of issuing a national identity card, a citizen shall be registered at his permanent or temporary residential address and a national identity number shall be issued according to that address.
(1) A citizen shall be allotted only one National Identification Number by the Registrar, which shall be used everywhere as the Unique Identification Number of the said citizen.
(2) A national identity card shall be issued to a citizen on the basis of the national identity number provided under sub-section (1).
(3) For the purposes of this Act, there shall be a national identity registration register containing the necessary information.
Every citizen shall be entitled to get National Identity Card and National Identity Number subject to prescribed procedures and conditions.
National Identity Card issued in favor of a citizen on the basis of-
(a) If correction of the said information is required, on the basis of the application given by the citizen, in the prescribed manner and subject to payment of fee, the same shall be corrected by the registrar; or
(b) If the said particulars are not correctly recorded in the National Identity Card, the same shall be corrected by the Registrar, without paying any fee, on the basis of the application given by the said citizen.
If the citizenship of a citizen is terminated, his National Identity Card shall be deemed to be canceled and the National Identification Number provided in the said National Identity Card shall not be used in the National Identity Card issued in favor of any other citizen.
(1) The Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette and optionally in the Electronic Gazette, require citizens to produce National Identity Card and submit a copy of the same for availing any services or civic benefits mentioned therein:
Provided that, such notification or system shall not be issued until the national identity card issuance process is completed in favor of the citizens in general in the entire area of Bangladesh.
(2) Until a notification under sub-section (1) is issued, no citizen shall be compelled to produce a national identity card, or, as the case may be, a copy of the national identity card, and no citizen shall be deprived of the right to civic benefits or services in the absence of a national identity card.
(1) The Registrar shall store the data through information technology.
(2) Information stored with the Registrar shall be treated as confidential.
(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (2), any person or institution may, in the prescribed manner and conditions, apply to the Registrar for the information preserved and the Registrar shall, unless otherwise deemed otherwise, give the information to the concerned person or institution.
If any citizen intentionally or knowingly furnishes or conceals any false or stated information for the purpose of obtaining a National Identity Card, he shall be deemed to have committed an offense under this Act and for such offense he shall be punished with imprisonment not exceeding 1 (one) year or with fine not exceeding 20 (twenty) thousand taka or with both.
If any citizen knowingly accepts more than one national identity card, he shall be deemed to have committed an offense under this Act and for such offense he shall be punished with imprisonment not exceeding 1 (one) year or fine not exceeding 20 (twenty) thousand taka or both.