Marginalized people denied public entitlements for not having NIDs

Dr. Debapriya Bhattacharya, Distinguished Fellow at the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), has said that marginalized communities across the country are failing to obtain National Identity Cards (NIDs), leaving them deprived of various government services.

He said an NID is the fundamental first step toward inclusive development. During the session, it was highlighted that complications in acquiring birth registration certificates remain the primary cause of this NID crisis. He highlighted these insights on Wednesday at the SDG Conference organized jointly by the General Economics Division (GED) of the Planning Commission and the Governance Innovation Unit of the PM Office at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Center in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka.

The first session on the final day of the conference featured Social Welfare Minister Abu Zafar Md. Zahid Hossain as the chief guest, with PM Tarique Rahman's Advisor and Spokesperson Mahdi Amin attending as the special guest. Dr. Debapriya Bhattacharya chaired the session, while CPD Additional Research Director Towfiqul Islam Khan presented the keynote paper. Representatives from various marginalized communities also voiced their specific challenges.

Dr. Debapriya further noted that focus should not remain solely on the GDP growth rate; its structural framework and quality must also be evaluated. He highlighted that the pace of poverty alleviation has slowed down recently while inequality has escalated, pointing out the stark reality that one in every three educated individuals is currently unemployed. Therefore, policies must be formulated through an inclusive approach.

During the floor discussion, Md. Wasim, a van-driver from the Mirpur Mazar Road area, said that many roaming people like him of his locality do not have NIDs. Transgender community representative Ramisa Chowdhury said the persistent hurdles their community faces in securing NIDs. Similarly, youth representative Sohanur Rahman pointed out that the frequently moving Manta community of Barishal remains completely deprived of NID cards.

In his address as chief guest, Social Welfare Minister said that Bangladesh currently ranks 110th in SDG implementation, and with less than five years remaining, the country must accelerate its efforts. He affirmed that the government is working toward establishing an inclusive Bangladesh for all.

Special guest Mahdi Amin, Advisor and Spokesperson for the PM Office, said the government is actively working to ensure financial, social, and political inclusion. He noted that key initiatives like the Family Card and Farmers' Card are being rolled out, emphasizing the government's commitment to working shoulder to shoulder with all citizens.