DHAKA: The Election Commission (EC) will not issue Smart Cards (digitized national ID) for citizens before March 2015 due to delay in getting World Bank’s (WB) approval to EC’s proposal on it.

EC initiated the Identification System for Enhancing Access to Services (IDEA) Project in 2011 with the help of WB for establishing a secure, accurate and reliable national ID system that serves as the basis for more efficient and transparent service delivery.

The government also signed an agreement with International Development Association (IDA), a member of the World Bank Group, for a credit of US$195 million for the project.

According to the treaty, EC has to take WB’s approval for major projects. This is why the organization is yet to start the project though a law has been enacted in this regard.

EC Secretary Sirajul Islam told banglanews they would not start even the piloting of project in December. It might start on any date of March 20-25, 2015.

Wishing anonymity, another EC official told banglanews that they have to rectify the misinformation on national ID cards before issuing Smart Cards, each of which would cost US $2.

BDST: 1157 HRS, NOV 17, 2014