United News of Bangladesh

National Board of Revenue (NBR) Chairman Md Abdur Rahman Khan on Tuesday (December 09, 2025) said the revenue authority is developing an automated system that will integrate taxpayers’ annual return submission with banks. It will ease eliminate the need for individuals to collect multiple bank certificates from different branches, he said at a “Meet the Press” event held at the conference room of the Revenue Building in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar on the eve of VAT Day and VAT Week. The NBR chief explained that the system will automatically retrieve essential information from banks once a taxpayer enters their Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) and National Identity Number (NID). This information includes the balance as of 30th June, the total profit earned throughout the year, the tax deducted at source on that profit, and the charges imposed by banks over the same period, he added. Read more: Over 2 million taxpayers file returns online in 5 months: NBR He said taxpayers who maintain several bank accounts currently have to visit each bank individually to collect these certificates, a process that often results in mistakes and creates undue hassle. “By automating the retrieval of this information, taxpayers will no longer need to run from one bank to another and inconsistencies in their submitted figures will be avoided,”he added. The NBR chairman said the system has been widely misunderstood and clarified that the revenue authority will not gain access to taxpayers’ personal or transactional information. He said that only the taxpayer will be able to view the automatically generated bank data while submitting their returns, and no tax official will have access to it. He further noted that no transaction-level information will be collected through this system. Read more: Income tax return submission deadline extended by one month Any request for detailed bank transactions will continue only under the existing legal framework during investigations backed by credible intelligence, which is a separate process entirely, he added. Khan said this new mechanism will prevent unnecessary complications such as reopening files due to discrepancies in bank-related declarations. He added that the initiative is progressing well although it could not be introduced this year. He expressed optimism that the system would be in place before next year, after strengthening NBR’s in-house IT workforce to connect securely with the digital systems of all banks. He called upon the media to help dispel misunderstandings and build public trust in the initiative, saying that their support is crucial in ensuring accurate communication. Read more: Railway exempted from submitting proof of income tax return filing He said greater transparency and efficiency would naturally boost tax collection once the system is implemented. The NBR chairman reaffirmed that the goal is to simplify the return-filing process, reduce the burden on taxpayers, and move towards a more modern and automated tax administration that supports the country’s development objectives.

Mobile  operators will begin from Saturday deactivating additional SIM cards registered under a single national ID (NID) if the number exceeds 10, as per a directive from the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC). In a recent notice, the regulator said that any excess SIMs will be automatically deactivated from November.  Users who fail to deactivate extra SIMs themselves risk losing access to randomly selected, possibly important numbers. Earlier, on July 30, BTRC announced that no individual will be allowed to hold more than 10 active SIMs under one NID, reducing the previous limit of 15. Subscribers can deregister extra SIMs through their respective mobile operators’ customer care services. SIM registration limit to be reduced before election: Home Adviser BTRC Chairman Major General (retd) Md Emdad Ul Bari said operators will start the deactivation process from Saturday, adding that by December, no NID will have more than 10 active SIMs. According to the regulator, as of March 2025, there were 186.2 million active SIMs in Bangladesh, while the actual number of users stood at around 67.5 million.  Over 80% of subscribers use fewer than five SIMs, 16% use between six and 10, and only 3% have more than 10. The move aims to restore order in SIM management and prevent fraud, BTRC officials said. Subscribers can check how many SIMs are registered under their NID either online or by dialing *16002#. Officials also noted that SIM deactivation will follow a random selection process, meaning even an important number may be deactivated if it exceeds the limit. Read more: International Roaming: How to use a Bangladeshi SIM card abroad

The Election Commission has disposed of more than nine lakh applications for corrections to National Identity Cards (NID) in the last six months under a special crash programme.  “Under the crash programme, we have resolved 907,662 NID correction applications in the past six months,” said EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed at a press briefing on Wednesday. No discussion on election date with Chief Adviser: CEC Raising the progress of the crash programme, the EC secretary said now only 76,694 NID correction applications remain to be settled. “Public sufferings related to NID services have declined,” he said. As of January 1 this year, there were 378,806 pending NID correction applications. Between January and June, another 605,520 new applications were submitted. Of the total 984,356 applications during this period, 907,662 have been disposed of, leaving 76,694 still pending, he said. As the number of pending applications goes down, so does the intensity of complaints of harassment and sufferings, the EC Secretary added. Since 2020, the EC has received a total of 5,476,011 correction applications, out of which 5,399,420 have been resolved.

The National Identity Registration Wing under the Election Commission (EC) has locked the National Identity Cards (NIDs) of 10 people, including former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The Election Commission took action against the 10 people through a letter. The other members were Sajeeb Wazed Joy, Saima Wazed Putul, Sheikh Rehana, Tulip Rizwana Siddiq, Azmina Siddiq, Shahin Siddiq, Bushra Siddiq, Radwan Mujib Siddiq and Tariq Ahmed Siddiq. Travel ban imposed on Sheikh Hasina, her family According to sources at the Election Commission, the decision to lock the NID cards of 10 members of the Sheikh family was taken based on a verbal instruction from ASM Humayn Kabir, director General of the National Identity Registration Wing. However, it is not still clear whether there was a direct order from the Election Commission Secretariat.  

Officials and employees of the Election Commission (EC) are going to stage demonstrations on Thursday in protest against the move to transfer national identity (NID) services to a separate registration commission. As part of the demonstration, they will form human chains under the banner ‘Stand for NID’ at the EC Secretariat and its regional offices across the country. Convener of Bangladesh Election Commission Officers Association Mohammad Monir Hossain on Wednesday announced the programme at a press conference at the EC Secretariat in the capital. “We’ll observe the ‘Stand for NID’ programme from 11am to 1pm tomorrow at the EC Secretariat and its offices throughout the country,” he said.   Monir Hossain said they (EC officials) submitted a memorandum to the Chief Election Commissioner on March 5 demanding visible steps from the EC and the government to cancel this initiative.  Listed extortionist held with arms in Dhaka The EC agreed with them and sent a letter to the government on March 9 arguing to keep the NID services under its authority, he said. “Despite receiving a response from the commission, we have not received anything from the government. So, we announced this programme as our demand was not met by March 12,” said the EC official. The current government has initiated the fresh move to bring a number of civic services, including birth registration and national identity registration services, under a single entity named the ‘Civil Registration Commission’, causing frustrations among the EC’s officials and employees. On March 3 last, a meeting of the inter-ministerial committee was held in the Cabinet Division to review the draft of the 'Civil Registration (Commission) Ordinance, 2025'. A representative from the EC Secretariat was also present at the additional secretary-level meeting. In 2023, the previous Awami League government enacted the National Identity Registration Act, 2023 to transfer the national identity registration operation from the Election Commission to the Security Services Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs.

The Bangladesh government has officially removed police verification from the e-passport application process. In a February 18, 2025 circular, the Security Services Department of the Ministry of Home Affairs confirmed that e-passports will now be issued based solely on the information available in the National Identity Card (NID). For minors and expatriate Bangladeshis, the birth registration certificate (BRC) registered online will serve as the primary verification document. This update aims to streamline passport issuance and reduce processing time. Let’s take a look at the overall application procedure for obtaining an e-passport without police clearance. Essential Documents for E-Passport Application . Primary Documents Based on Age Category Applicants below 18 years: BRC in English, registered online.Applicants aged 18 to 20 years: Either a NID card or an online-registered BRC in English.Applicants above 20 years: A NID card is mandatory. However, those residing abroad can submit an online-registered BRC issued by Bangladesh Missions.For minors: Both parents' NID cards must be provided.Proof of residence: A recent utility bill (gas, electricity, or water) of the applicant’s residential address.For adoptees or legal guardianship cases: An official order from the Department of Protective Services, Ministry of Home Affairs.For marital status verification: Marriage certificate or Nikahnama for married applicants; in case of divorce, a Talaqnama must be submitted if applicable. Additional Documents for Various Professionals Technical or skilled professionals (e.g., drivers, engineers, doctors): A relevant vocational or professional certification.Students: A certificate from the head of the educational institution, the latest educational qualification certificate, or a valid student ID card.Private sector employees: An official employment certificate issued by the respective institution.Government employees: Any one of the following official documents, as published on the issuing authority’s website:- Government Order (GO)- No Objection Certificate (NOC)- Employment Certificate- Post-Retirement Leave (PRL) Order- Pension BookFarmers and agricultural workers: A copy of their land title deed as proof of agricultural engagement.Business owners: A copy of a valid Trade License for their business establishment. Mandatory Attachments at the Time of Application Submission Along with the primary and profession-specific documents, applicants must also submit: - A printed summary of the application form, including the scheduled time for biometric registration.- A printed copy of the fully completed online application form.- Receipt of passport fee payment as proof of submission.- For children below six years, a recent passport-sized photograph taken in a lab with a gray background is required.- For applicants above six years, no separate photograph is required. Most importantly, there is no requirement to have any of the above documents attested for submission. Read more: Bangladesh E-passport Error Correction Process Step-by-Step Guide to Applying for an E-Passport . Filling Out the Online Application Form To initiate the e-passport application process, access the official website at www.epassport.gov.bd using an internet browser. Select the ‘Apply Online’ tab, where the first step involves determining the designated e-passport issuing office. This is done by choosing the relevant district and police station from the drop-down menu, after which the affiliated passport office will be automatically assigned. For applicants seeking to identify the nearest e-passport office separately, the necessary information can be found at this link: https://dip.gov.bd/site/page/4d4ea063-50df-46ee-a326-492d8ef2dbb0/-. Following the selection of the passport office, an account must be created on the e-passport online registration portal. This requires entering an email address, NID card or BRC, and a mobile number, followed by setting a unique password. Once the account has been successfully created, future logins can be performed using either the email or mobile number and the designated password. All information provided in the form must match exactly with the details on the applicant’s NID card. Once the required mandatory fields are completed, the system will prompt for passport fee payment. If the payment is made online, the receipt number will be automatically linked to the application. The next step involves scheduling an appointment for biometric registration. A date can be selected from the available slots displayed on the screen. At the final stage, after submission, a summary of the completed application, including the scheduled biometric appointment, will be displayed. A printed copy of both the summary and the submitted online registration form must be attached to other required documents before proceeding with the next steps. Read more: E-Passport for Children in Bangladesh: Application process, necessary documents E-Passport Fee Payment Options The Department of Passports and Immigration has approved multiple payment methods for e-passport processing fees. The available options include: Debit and Credit Cards: Visa, MasterCard, and American ExpressMobile Financial Services (MFS): bKash, Nagad, Rocket, UPay, DMoney, OK Wallet, and MBL RainbowAuthorized Banks:Bank Asia, BRAC Bank, Eastern Bank, City Bank, United Commercial Bank, Arab-Bangladesh Bank, Dutch-Bangla Bank, and Midland Bank. E-Passport Fee Structure and Processing Time The fee for an e-passport varies depending on the number of pages, validity period, and delivery speed. Applications are categorized into Regular, Express, and Super Express services: Super Express Service: The fastest option, delivering the passport within 2 working days from the date of biometric registration.Express Service: Processing takes a minimum of 7 working days which extends to a maximum of 10 days from the date of biometric registration.Regular Service: The most extended timeframe, with a processing period of at least 15 working days or 21 days from the date of biometric registration. Read more: No police verification required for passports: CA E-Passport with 48 Pages (5-Year Validity) Regular Service: BDT 4,025Express Service: BDT 6,325Super Express Service: BDT 8,625 E-Passport with 64 Pages (5-Year Validity) Regular Service: BDT 6,325Express Service: BDT 8,625Super Express Service: BDT 12,075 E-Passport with 48 Pages (10-Year Validity) Regular Service: BDT 5,750Express Service: BDT 8,050Super Express Service: BDT 10,350 E-Passport with 64 Pages (10-Year Validity) Regular Service: BDT 8,050Express Service: BDT 10,350Super Express Service: BDT 13,800 Document Submission and Biometric Registration Applicants must visit the designated e-passport service center on the scheduled date, bringing all required documents. During this visit, the biometric data, including photographs and fingerprints, will be collected. To ensure smooth processing, candidates must wear colored clothing when having their photograph taken at the passport center. Upon completing the biometric process, a delivery slip will be issued, specifying the estimated date of passport collection. This slip serves as proof of biometric registration and must be kept safely for submission on the day of passport collection. Read more: Government issues guidelines over revoking diplomatic “red” passports Checking E-Passport Application Status From the day of biometric registration until the estimated passport collection date, applicants can track their application status online. For this, visit: https://www.epassport.gov.bd/authorization/application-status- A 13-digit application ID will be provided on the distribution slip. Applicants must use this Application ID or the OID (Online Registration ID) found in the application form to check the current progress of their e-passport. Collection of E-Passport Without Police Verification Previously, police verification was required after biometric registration. However, under the new regulations, this step has been eliminated. Once the e-passport is ready for collection, a notification will be sent to the mobile number and email address provided in the application form. To collect the passport, applicants must visit the designated passport issuing office on the specified date, bringing along the original delivery slip and NID card. Verdict Online application process for Bangladesh e-passport is easy and user-friendly. From February 18, 2025, the removal of the requirement for police verification has streamlined the e-passport application process, offering a more efficient and accessible approach for all. Applicants now only need to provide their NID card or BRC, removing the traditional requirement for police clearance. The process includes completing an online application, submitting necessary documents, and attending bio-enrollment at the designated passport office. Applicants can track their application status and collect their passports upon notification, making the overall experience faster. Read more: Visa-free Travel for Bangladeshi Passport Holders in 2025: Top Destinations to Explore

Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus has announced that citizens will no longer need police verification to get passports. The government has made it a rule that there will be no need for police verification from now, he said while inaugurating the annual Deputy Commissioners’ conference at his office in the capital. “Obtaining a passport is one of the citizens’ rights. If we don't require police verification for birth certificates or NIDs, why should it be necessary for passports?” he said. Dr Yunus said the government must work as a team. “It’s a team work. We must avoid anything that hinders the success of the entire team,” he added. This year's conference will include a total of 30 working sessions with various ministries and departments, along with four special sessions. Visa issue doesn’t exist once passport revoked: Govt The special sessions include the inaugural ceremony, a meeting with the Chief Justice, an open discussion with the Chief Adviser, and a meeting with the Bangladesh Administrative Service Association. Some 354 proposals have been received from DCs and divisional commissioners ahead of the conference, which will conclude on February 18 (Tuesday).

In its preliminary investigation, the Election Commission (EC) has found evidence that five institutions using NID services leaked information to third parties. EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed disclosed this while speaking to reporters after a views-exchange meeting with institutions receiving NID verification services at Nirbachan Bhaban on Monday. The five accused are the Director General of Health Services, UCB Bank's Upay, the Chittagong Port Authority, Department of Women Affairs and IBAS of the Finance Ministry. “These institutions have been asked to show cause. An investigation is underway to determine whether this occurred due to negligence or was done intentionally. If anyone has done this on his or her own initiative, it is a punishable offence,” said the Secretary. Injured victims of July uprising get smart NID cards He said 182 institutions use this service from the NID wing. There should be a limit to use the data of the NID server, he added. Akhtar Ahmed said that 182 organisations verify NID information from the Election Commission. Some of the institutions provide the NID verification service to the third parties, which is a violation of the terms of the agreement. EC cancels deal with BCC for NID data verification service The three-day views-exchange with stakeholders will review how much information an organisation requires and whether it is accessing more than necessary, he added.

The Election Commission (EC) has taken a plan to settle nearly 400,000 pending applications, submitted seeking correction in the national identity cards, within the next three months in a bid to curb the corruption in the NID services. Director General of the Election Commission’s National Identity Card (NID) Wing ASM Humayun Kabir on Thursday said this while talking to reporters following an operation of Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), conducted at the EC offices, targeting a network of corrupt staff and brokers who allegedly involved in bribery related to NID card services. Election Commission’s maiden meeting in progress “We’ll try to resolve 3.78 lakh pending applications submitted seeking corrections (in NID) within three months so that the opportunities for corruption are reduced,” he said. The ACC, in a crackdown started 11am on Thursday, detained two brokers red-handed and took action against two corrupt staff for their involvement in bribery related to EC’s national identity card services. The NID DG said the manpower crisis is a major reason behind the backlog of applications. So, an initiative has been taken to hire more manpower for the NID services, he said. Election Commission seeks opinions on electoral reform    “I hope you will see a crash program very soon. You will see significant improvement (in settlement of applications) in the next three months,” he said, adding that the EC would try to settle all 378,000 pending applications within this period. According to the EC’s statistics, there are more than 12 crore voters in the country. A large number of voters have various errors in their NIDs. But the people face harassment and difficulties in availing NID services.

The Election Commission (EC) has urged all to correct any errors in their National Identity Cards (NIDs) by January 2. The directive comes as part of preparations for publishing the draft voter list on the same date. In a media release issued on Sunday, the Election Commission Secretariat urged all the citizens of the country to visit their respective Upazila or Thana election offices to get corrected any errors in their NIDs. The media release stressed the importance of accurate NID information, as the draft voter list will be based on the records provided. Any discrepancies left unresolved could lead to administrative and legal complications in the future, it added. To facilitate the correction process, all concerned are required to submit a duly filled-out form along with necessary documents. EC accelerates disposal of NID correction applicants The EC has assured that adequate measures have been taken to ensure a smooth and efficient correction process. The Election Commission says that having an accurate NID is not only crucial for voter registration but also for verifying personal identity and safeguarding citizens' rights.