The advisory council has granted both policy-level and final approval to the draft of the Election Commission Secretariat (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025, which reinstates the Election Commission’s authority over the preparation and maintenance of the national identity (NID) database.

The approval was given during a meeting of the Advisory Council held on Thursday (Sept 18) at the Chief Adviser’s Office, presided over by Chief Adviser Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus. The ordinance is set to take immediate effect.

The 2025 ordinance introduces amendments to two sections of the Election Commission Secretariat Act, 2009. One key amendment replaces Sub-section (4) of Section 3, laying the foundation for establishing an "Election Commission Service." Another significant change updates Clause (a), Serial No. (2) of Sub-section (2) in Section 4, formally assigning the responsibility of preparing and preserving the national identity card database to the Election Commission Secretariat.

Additionally, Serial Nos. (6), (7), (8), (9), and (11) under the same clause have been revised and substituted in the new ordinance.

Officials at the Election Commission (EC) said the ordinance effectively brings the NID function back under the commission’s purview. However, for full implementation, the government must repeal the 2023 law that transferred NID-related responsibilities to the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Previously, the Awami League-led government had enacted the National Identity Registration Act, 2023, to place the NID programme under the control of the Ministry of Home Affairs. In response, the Election Commission formally requested the caretaker government to repeal that law and restore the NID function to the EC.

SMS/