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Bangladeshi expats living in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will receive their National Identity Cards (NIDs) on Monday.
Some three years after the initiative was implemented, Bangladeshi expats in the UAE are now able to access NID services for the first time. At the same time, the voter registration process will also start.
Election Commissioner Ahsan Habib Khan will officially launch the two processes in the presence of the Bangladeshi Ambassador and Consul General to the UAE.
In this regard, Election Commissioner Ahsan Habib Khan said on Saturday that the initiative will pave the way for new opportunities for NID registration outside Bangladesh.
Using this experience, this step will be extended to various European countries, including the Middle East, he added.
“Expatriate Bangladeshis want to send money through legal channels. Many send money to the country illegally through hundi as they do not have NIDs. Now, after obtaining NIDs, they will be able to send money through legal channels,” the Election Commissioner said.
He further expressed hope that this move would help increase Bangladesh’s reserves.
Plans to launch services in 15 countries within a year
The government plans to roll out the service in 15 countries where Bangladeshi expatriates live.
In response, Election Commission Additional Secretary Ashok Kumar Debnath said: “Following the success of the pilot work in the UAE, efforts will be made next year to launch NID services for expatriate Bangladeshis in at least 15 countries.”
About 15 years ago, there was a call to grant voting rights and issue National Identity Cards (NIDs) to Bangladeshi expats living in various countries.
The Election Commission under then-KM Nurul Huda started the online registration process in Malaysia in November 2019 after overcoming various complexities in registering foreign Bangladeshi voters.
The program was subsequently put on hold due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The incumbent committee headed by Qazi Habibur Awal has again taken the initiative to speed up its work.
Over 5,000 citizens of Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, UAE, UK and Maldives have applied for NID cards.
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