Desk Report, 02 October:
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today asked the Election Commission to ensure the security of the data being used for preparing smart national identity (NID) cards, saying that there should have firewall in such a digital project to check forgery.
“I would like to request the Election Commission to ensure security of the data being used for preparing smart national identity cards … there should have firewall and all kinds of security in every digital project so that none can misuse it,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina added: “There are adequate technologies in the country and it’s very much necessary to use those technologies to check forgery in using the smart NID cards.” BSS
The premier said this while inaugurating the distribution of the smart NID cards as the chief guest at a function at Osmani Memorial Hall in the city this morning.
The Election Commission launched distribution of much-awaited machine-readable smart national identity (NID) cards among 10 crore citizens, replacing the existing paper-laminated cards.
Sheikh Hasina formally opened the smart NID card distribution by handing over the smart NID card of President Abdul Hamid to Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmed.
Later, the CEC handed over the smart NID card of the prime minister to her. After that Sheikh Hasina distributed smart NID cards to members of the national cricket team including skipper and Brand Ambassador of smart NID cards Mashrafee Bin Mortuza and ace allrounder Shakib Al Hasan.
Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmed was present at the function as the special guest, while Election Commission Secretariat Secretary Md Sirajul Islam delivered the welcome address.
World Bank Country Director Qimiao Fan spoke and Project Director of Identification System for Enhancing Accesses to Services Brigadier General Sultanuzzaman Md Saleh Uddin gave a short presentation on the smart NID cards.
Ministers, PM’s advisers, parliament members, foreign diplomats, ex-CECs and election commissioners, civil society members, members of the national cricket team and high civil and military officials were present at the function.
