Citizens whose applications for correction of their National Identity Cards (NID) were previously rejected will now be given another opportunity to resubmit their requests under the ongoing crash program, which will continue until October 31. The directive was issued by Muhammad Sarwar Hossain, Assistant Director (Validity and Accuracy Verification) of the NID Wing, through an official notification sent to field officers.

According to the notification, a special “crash program” was conducted from December 29 last year to June 30 this year, aimed at resolving a large number of NID correction requests within a fixed timeframe. Following that initiative, another crash program was introduced by the NID Wing on July 21, which will run until October 31, specifically for disposing of applications under the "Gha" category.

The NID Wing explained that several reasons led to the cancellation of many NID correction applications during the earlier period. These reasons included failure to submit required documents within the specified time, incomplete or improperly filed applications, discrepancies between requested corrections and the submitted documents, absence of applicants during scheduled interviews, and cancellation at the request of the NID holders themselves. Officials acknowledged that, in many such cases, the rejected applications did not accurately reflect the applicants’ genuine eligibility or the validity of their requests.

In light of this, the Election Commission has decided that applicants whose correction requests were rejected for the above reasons will now be allowed to reapply. Importantly, such reapplications will not be categorized as a new or higher category case. Instead, they will be reassessed under the same category from which they were previously rejected, thereby allowing for a fairer and quicker resolution. All related activities must be completed by October 31 as part of this initiative.

Over the last six months, the Election Commission processed nearly 900,000 NID correction applications under the crash program. The Commission considers the program an effective means of addressing a large backlog of applications and ensuring that citizens’ records are accurate in the NID database.

Officials emphasized that the crash program aims to reduce delays in NID-related services and to address the common grievances of citizens who often face complications due to errors in their identity cards. Since NID data is widely used for essential government and private services—including banking, healthcare, education, and property transactions—ensuring accuracy in the records remains a top priority for the Election Commission.

The notification further instructed field officers to treat reapplications from previously rejected applicants with urgency and fairness. Instead of sending such cases to higher levels of scrutiny or categorizing them under a different classification, officers are directed to finalize the process within the originally applicable category. This approach, according to the Commission, will help prevent unnecessary delays and reduce the burden on citizens.

The Commission also acknowledged that some rejections occurred not because of fraudulent intent but due to technical lapses, incomplete submissions, or failure to meet deadlines. By reopening the opportunity under the crash program, the Commission aims to ensure that genuine applicants are not deprived of their rightful corrections to NID information.

As part of this effort, applicants are being reminded to carefully follow instructions during the reapplication process. Required documents must be submitted correctly, and applicants must attend interviews or verification sessions if called upon. Field-level NID offices are expected to guide applicants more effectively this time to minimize procedural errors.

The decision has been welcomed by many who faced challenges due to earlier rejections. For citizens who rely heavily on accurate NID information for official transactions, the reapplication window is seen as a critical opportunity to correct discrepancies that affect daily life.

The NID Wing has confirmed that the crash program will remain in effect until October 31 without any extension beyond that date. Therefore, individuals affected are urged to complete their applications promptly to avoid missing this window.

In summary, the Election Commission’s initiative reflects an effort to improve transparency, efficiency, and accessibility in the NID correction process. By reopening the opportunity for rejected applicants, the Commission hopes to provide a fair resolution for many citizens and reinforce the importance of maintaining accurate national identity records in Bangladesh.