The Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh is under pressure as thousands of citizens from across the country travel daily to its Dhaka headquarters to correct birth dates on their National Identity Cards (NID). The EC had earlier centralized all ‘Category D’ correction applications, removing the authority of field-level officials to prevent irregularities. However, this move has led to severe public suffering, long queues, and the rise of middlemen exploiting applicants.

According to EC officials, around 1,000 ‘Category D’ applications are submitted daily, with a backlog of about 80,000 cases. The EC plans to introduce an appointment-based software system to manage hearings from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and reduce overcrowding. Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed stated that field officers will not regain authority over birth date corrections due to widespread document inconsistencies and fraudulent attempts.

An internal policy dispute persists within the EC over whether to restore some authority to regional offices. A workshop is being planned to review the policy and finalize decisions aimed at easing public hardship and improving service efficiency.