by 
On Wednesday (July 2), at the Election Commission (EC) building in Agargaon, Senior Secretary Akhtar Hossain briefed journalists about the ongoing crash program for correcting National Identity Cards (NIDs). He revealed that a total of 984,356 applications for NID corrections have been submitted so far, out of which 907,662 have already been processed.
Akhtar Hossain emphasized that the EC has placed significant focus on the crash program, leading to substantial progress. However, some pending applications are facing delays due to various issues. Despite this, the EC is making all-out efforts to expedite the processing of NID correction applications.
In response to a question, the EC Secretary stated that the commission is addressing complaints from the field to reduce public inconvenience. Additionally, to prevent data leaks, the EC is implementing technological changes in its information management system. From now on, the use of a One-Time Password (OTP) sent to the user’s registered mobile number will be mandatory for NID services. This measure will ensure user identity verification and significantly reduce the risk of data breaches.
On Tuesday (July 1), Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A M M Nasir Uddin stated that preparations for the national election are underway in "full gear" despite challenges. He informed the Chief Adviser, who inquired about election preparations, that the process is moving forward at full pace. In response to a question, the CEC noted that preparations have been ongoing since February and will continue through April, with the election date and schedule to be announced in due time.
The CEC further elaborated, comparing the election preparations to driving a vehicle up a hill in fourth gear, navigating through various challenges. He assured that the EC is ready to hold the election whenever the government decides. Regarding the government’s stance on elections, Nasir Uddin said the Chief Adviser is highly sincere about ensuring a fair and neutral election, and the EC is aligned with this commitment. "The Chief Adviser is neutral, and so are we," he added.
