Bangladesh launches smart national ID cards among 10 crore citizens

Bangladesh today started the distribution of machine-readable identity cards for the citizens that will replace the currently used laminated ones, according to local media reports. 

The smart identity cards were launched this morning among 10 crore (100,000,000) citizens by the Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at a programme held at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in capital city, Dhaka. 

The Prime Minister opened the process by giving her biometric details, impression of 10 fingers and a picture of her iris, the Daily Star reported. 

The smart NID cards will first be provided to  the President, the Prime Minister and members of the national cricket team, according to Indian news agency ANI. 

The distribution will commence in two city corporations in Dhaka from Monday and in a remote area in Kurigram the following day, the news agency further mentioned. 

The project has been implemented under the election commission (EC) as the card was initially used as voters’ ID card, according to local media reports. 

According to Daily Star, the EC would collect biometric details, impression of 10 fingers and picture of iris of the card holders during the distribution of smart cards.

To maintain the security of the smart cards, as many as 25 international certifications and standards have been reportedly ensured.  

A microchip on the smart card contains all the information of the citizens. Further, the NID cardholders are eligible to get 22 types of services, including banking, driving license and passport, ANI reports. 

The smart NID cards would be given free of cost but after losing it twice the cardholder will be charged a fixed amount of money if he or she goes to collect a new one.

(WION with inputs from ANI)