All to get smart NID cards: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said her government has decided to provide smart NID cards to all citizens of the country irrespective of their ages, reports UNB.
"I think all citizens should have identity cards...we've decided in principle to provide that," she said. The Prime Minister was inaugurating the process to provide smart NID cards giving her biometric details, impression of 10 fingers and iris picture at a function at Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the capital.
Sheikh Hasina said the country's citizens who are now 18 years of age and above to be provided with the smart NID cards. "But, we're taking steps to provide thesmart NID cards to those who are under 18 or not eligible for voting.
She also mentioned that convicted criminals and physiologically-challenged citizens will be brought under this smart NID process. “We’ll give them NID as well.”
The Prime Minister put emphasis on providing NID cards to the convicted criminals who are staying in jails. “There should be a process to capture these criminals if they escape from the prisons,” she added.
After the providing of the smart
NID cards to all citizens, she said, there will a radical change in delivering various government services to the country’s people. “The rate of fraudulence and cheating will also come down.”
Hasina also said no one will be able to escape punishment after committing any crime once this smart NID card will be provided to all.
About the zero tolerance against militancy and terrorism, she said it would be possible to capture these anti-social elements easily.
“We’ve taken an anti-militancy and terrorism stance in Bangladesh...we won’t allow creation of militants in the country, no matter what. This smart card will help a lot identify these anti-social elements.”
The Prime Minister mentioned that by this smart card it will make it easier to identify and arrest any criminal.
Describing various security features of the card, she said it is more secure and it would be possible to ensure its diversified use.
She asked the Election Commission to ensure foolproof security of the data that will be taken for the purpose of this card. “Please make sure that no one can misuse the data,” she said.
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad and World Bank Country Director for Bangladesh Qimiao Fan also spoke at the programme.
Election Commission Secretary M Sirajul Islam delivered the welcome speech, while Project Director of Identification System for Enhancing Accesses to Services of the EC Brigadier General Sultanuzzaman Md
Saleh Uddin made a short presentation on the smart NID cards.

All to get smart NID cards: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said her government has decided to provide smart NID cards to all citizens of the country irrespective of their ages, reports UNB. I think all citizens should have identity cards...weve decided in principle to provide that, she said. The Prime Minister was inaugurating the process to provide smart NID cards giving her biometric details, impression of 10 fingers and iris picture at a function at Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the capital. Sheikh Hasina said the countrys citizens who are now 18 years of age and above to be provided with the smart NID cards. But, were taking steps to provide thesmart NID cards to those who are under 18 or not eligible for voting. She also mentioned that convicted criminals and physiologically-challenged citizens will be brought under this smart NID process. Well give them NID as well. The Prime Minister put emphasis on providing NID cards to the convicted criminals who are staying in jails. There should be a process to capture these criminals if they escape from the prisons, she added. After the providing of the smart NID cards to all citizens, she said, there will a radical change in delivering various government services to the countrys people. The rate of fraudulence and cheating will also come down. Hasina also said no one will be able to escape punishment after committing any crime once this smart NID card will be provided to all. About the zero tolerance against militancy and terrorism, she said it would be possible to capture these anti-social elements easily. Weve taken an anti-militancy and terrorism stance in Bangladesh...we wont allow creation of militants in the country, no matter what. This smart card will help a lot identify these anti-social elements. The Prime Minister mentioned that by this smart card it will make it easier to identify and arrest any criminal. Describing various security features of the card, she said it is more secure and it would be possible to ensure its diversified use. She asked the Election Commission to ensure foolproof security of the data that will be taken for the purpose of this card. Please make sure that no one can misuse the data, she said. Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad and World Bank Country Director for Bangladesh Qimiao Fan also spoke at the programme. Election Commission Secretary M Sirajul Islam delivered the welcome speech, while Project Director of Identification System for Enhancing Accesses to Services of the EC Brigadier General Sultanuzzaman Md Saleh Uddin made a short presentation on the smart NID cards.