The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Rangpur

Distribution of national identity cards (NICs) among the voters of the pourasabha begins today through a ceremony at the Rangpur Zila Parishad Community Centre, official sources said.

Brigade Commander of the 72 Infantry Brigade Brig Gen Mohammad Ferdous Mia will inaugurate the NICs distribution as the chief guest at 11 am tomorrow, District Election Officer (DEO) Subhash Chandra Sarker said ysterday evening. A total of 1,37,404 eligible voters out of estimated 1.71 lakh in the Rangpur pourasabha area completed their registrations by Friday evening though the process will continue till September 13 next

The registration process continues satisfactorily and a total of over 1.51 lakh eligible voters were enrolled by today. The total number of voters will be less this time than that of the previous registered number, the DEO said.

According to the officials, all formalities, including taking of photographs and fingerprints of 80.32 percent of the estimated eligible voters at Rangpur town, were completed by Friday evening to enroll people as voters and prepare their NICs.

The fourth and last phase of the registration process, that began on last September 5 at wards-11, 12, 13 14 and 15 of the pourasabha, is now progressing fast to complete the pilot project on the schedule and the NICs distribution will continue till September 30 next, the officials said.

Technical teams of the Bangladesh Army led by Commanding Officer of the 5 Signal Batalion of the 66 Infantry Division Lt Col Shahriar Ahmed Chowdhury has been extending all necessary supports for the Election Commission to register the people as voters from August 19.