3 lakh Ctg voters yet to get nat'l ID cards

Around three lakh people in Chittagong are facing difficulties in availing different services as they are yet to get their national identity (ID) cards for which they applied between November 2012 and November 2013.
However, an official notice at the office of the District Election Officer states that they will be able to cast their votes in the 10th parliamentary election tomorrow by showing their receipts.
They could not distribute the ID cards among them as those were yet to arrive from the Election Commission office in Dhaka, said Khorshed Alam, district election officer.
Consequently, the card seekers are facing hassles in opening bank accounts, applying for a loan and the likes.
“I gave my particulars at Bagmoniram Boys' High School in Chittagong city in November 2012 and submitted the national ID card application with necessary information. I was given a receipt that month, but I never got to see my ID card,” said Amjad Hossain, a student of Dhaka University, Wednesday morning.
He could not apply for a scholarship in a university abroad for not having the national ID card, he added.
Facing similar problems, Nurul Alam and Nayan Sarkar, students of Chittagong University, were also seen leaving the office of District Election Officer disappointed.
“Casting vote is not our prime concern,” said Nurul.
He recently lost his cellphone SIM card and could not apply for a new one as a copy of the national ID card was required, he added.
Nayan said they had completed all necessary procedures over a year ago.
Like them, many applicants return from the office every day without receiving their ID cards.