The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Rangpur

Distribution of the National Identity Cards (NICs), prepared under the ongoing Pilot Project of Voters' Registration with Photographs and Preparing NICs, began here yesterday in a simple ceremony at Rangpur Zila Parishad Community Centre.

Acting Division Commander of 66 Infantry Division of Bangladesh Army Brigadier General Muhammad Ferdous Mia, who atended the ceremony organised by Sadar Upazila Parishad as the chief guest, inaugurated the distribution of NICs among the voters of Rangpur pourashava area.

The first NIC was handed over to valiant freedom fighter and Commissioner of Ward No. 1 Nur Mohammad Mia by the chief guest and subsequently distributed the NICs to voters Abu Hena Emfatul Hasnain, Anjuara Begum, Parveen Akhter, Mina Alam and Lovely Begum.

Later, Deputy Commissioner of Rangpur Khondker Atiar Rahman, chairman of Rangpur pourasabha AKM Abdur Rouf Manik, Sadar UNO Mamtaz Uddin and Chief Coordinator of the project Lt Colonel Shahriar Ahmed Chowdhury also distributed NICs among 18 more voters.

The chief guest also handed over more than 500 NICs to Sadar UNO in the ceremony for distributing those among the concerned voters.

Among others, Colonel Elias, Lt Colonel Ahmed Tabrez Shams Chowdhury, Major Salah Uddin, Major Nurus Salam, Deputy Election Commissioner Habibul Alam, District Election Officer Subhash Chandra Sarker, President of Rangpur Chamber of Commerce and Industries Mostafa Azad Chowdhury Babu and senior military and civil officials and elite were present in the function.

In his speech, Brig Gen Ferdous said the NICs will help the citizens for exercising their rights and geting many services being provided by the government and thanked all concerned involved with the process in making the project successful through their all-out cooperation.

"It has become possible following cooperation extended by all people and any noble task can be performed successfully by our sons and daughters through united efforts," he said.

He also thanked the media people for their continuous supports and asked them to play their due role in creating mass awareness to make the project successful in the remote areas of greater Rangpur within the stipulated period of next October.

Lt Colonel Shahriar informed the gathering that a total of 1,46,824 voters out of the estimated 1,71,317 voters as per the previous list of Rangpur pourassabha, have so far completed their registrations by last evening.

The registration process that began on August 19 last, is expected to complete in the pourasabha areas by two days ahead of the scheduled September 13 and it has become possible due to the dedicated, sincere and united efforts of all including about 1,000 people directly involved with the project here, he added.

"We have registered 374 physically handicapped, aged and seriously ill people undergoing treatments at the hospitals through door-to-door visits to them and more 236 citizens of the pourasabha area now living in Rangpur Central Jail will be registered today," he said.