Election Commission Secretary Helal Uddin Ahmed has said that the third gender population of the country will be given National Identity Cards this year.
“Separate voter lists will be formulated for the population. Later, they will be given NID cards,” he said while inaugurating the voter list updating program of Rajshahi region at Rajshahi College auditorium on Tuesday, reports BSS.
Chaired by Commissioner of Rajshahi division Nur-Ur-Rahman, the meeting was addressed, among others, by Deputy Commissioner SM Abdul Kader, Chief Executive Officer of Rajshahi City Corporation Shawgatul Alam, Additional Commissioner of Rajshahi Metropolitan Police Suzayetul Islam, Principal of Rajshahi College Prof Habibur Rahman and Regional Election Officer Faridul Islam.
Helal said the third gender people will be brought under voter list so that they can avail the scope of exercising their rights of franchise in polling centres like other voters.
He, however, said the issue of vote casting is not related to NID but it’s related to getting civic services. So, the NID is essential for all citizens. When all people will be given NID, corruption and crimes will be reduced to a greater extent in the country, he added.
The EC secretary said all the local government elections will be held through Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) from now on.
He said: “The EVM is enriched with modern technologies. So, the EC will use it confidently in the local body election”.
He also said the government remains alert so that not a single foreigner or Rohingya can get chance of enlisting their names in the voter lists.
District administration and police department were asked to remain vigil on the movement of Rohingyas in their respective areas.
