Election Commission Secretary Akhter Ahmed said according to a primary investigation, five organizations receiving National Identity Card (NID) services leaked information to third party.

He disclosed this information after a meeting with NID verification service users at the EC office in Agargaon on Tuesday (February 10).

The organizations identified in the data breach are the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), UCB Bank’s Upay, Chattogram Port Authority, the Department of Women Affairs, and the iBAS system of the Ministry of Finance. 

The EC has al issued show-cause notices to these organizations and is investigating whether the leaks happened due to negligence or intentional actions, said EC Secretary. 

He warned if found deliberate, it will be considered a punishable offense.

A total of 182 organizations use the EC’s NID verification service. The secretary emphasized the need to set limits on data usage, saying that keeping the system open without restrictions increases security risks.

He also mentioned that some organizations are sharing NID verification services with others, violating contract terms. The EC will review how much data each organization needs and whether they are using more than necessary.

The commission is holding a three-day consultation with all 182 organizations using the NID verification service.

BDST: 1529 HRS, FEB 10, 2025
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