Youths aged 16 or above will be able to avail the national identity (NID) services and card from now on, according to a decision taken by the Election Commission. The EC on Sunday issued a notification, directing its field-level officials to extend the NID services to the Bangladeshi citizens aged 16 and 17 as well. Bangladeshi citizens aged at least 18 have been entitled to avail of the NID services and cards since the introduction of NID registration in 2008. Initially, the EC issued laminated NID cards to Bangladeshi citizens aged at least 18 and then started the distribution of smart NID cards in 2016. The NID cards are needed to avail various government and private services like opening bank accounts, obtaining passports and driving licenses, registering SIM cards and getting land-related services.

Source: Dhaka Tribune February 22, 2026 13:38 UTC