The Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh has made it mandatory to present an education certificate when applying for a National Identity Card (NID), both for new voter registration and for correction requests. The directive, issued on April 29 by the EC’s NID wing, was sent to field-level officials to ensure data accuracy and prevent future complications in identity corrections.

According to the instruction signed by NID Wing Director Saiful Islam, voter registration requires several documents, including the registration form, birth certificate, and proof copy. The Secondary School Certificate (SSC) is now essential, especially for verifying birth dates during data corrections. The EC observed that many field offices were not including SSC certificates in the database, leading to difficulties in verifying applicants’ information. To maintain transparency, applicants with higher education must also submit their highest degree certificates.

Regional and district election officers have been assigned to monitor compliance and conduct random checks. EC officials stated that this initiative will enhance the accuracy of NID data and help prevent identity fraud.