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Govt plans 'One-ID' to replace NID
Published : Thursday, 3 September, 2026 at 4:16 PM
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The government has taken an initiative to issue a single identification card named 'Unified Digital Identity' or 'One-ID' to every citizen right at birth.
This identity card will serve as a permanent and unique identification throughout a citizen's life for accessing health, education, and various government services. The Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Division has undertaken a project titled 'Digital Service Transformation for Access and Resilience' (D-STAR) to implement this system, which will be executed by the Bangladesh Computer Council between 2026 and 2031.
ICT Division Secretary Mamunur Rashid Bhuiyan confirmed it to the media on Thursday (September 3) that the project has been sent to the Planning Commission for approval.
Under the proposed system, age limits will no longer apply, enabling newborns to receive the unique identity immediately without needing to wait until age 18 for a National ID (NID).
Officials plan to gradually consolidate the services of existing cards - such as NID, Family Cards, and Farmer Cards - into this single card. Drawing from experiences in the US, Singapore, Estonia, and India, ICT Adviser Rehan Asif Asad framed the concept as "One Citizen, One Digital Identity, One Wallet," combining official identification with digital transaction capabilities.
The primary project proposal envisions creating identity profiles for roughly 180 million citizens based on the latest Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics census, with plans to manufacture and print 200 million polycarbonate chip cards.
Production and printing costs are estimated at $2 (about Tk 246) per card, while distribution and delivery will cost $1 (about Tk 123) per card, bringing the total cost per card to approximately Tk 369.
The project carries a total estimated budget of Tk 9,193 crore, with the government funding Tk 7,663 crore and the World Bank providing Tk 1,530 crore in loans. Card production, printing, biometric data collection, and distribution form the largest expenditure at Tk 7,380 crore. Experts note that establishing effective interconnections between existing databases - such as NIDs, birth registrations, passports, driving licenses, and TINs - will eliminate redundant data collection and streamline public service delivery.
-SA
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Editor : Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury
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Published by the Editor on behalf of the Observer Ltd. from Globe Printers, 24/A, New Eskaton Road, Ramna, Dhaka.
Editorial, News and Commercial Offices : Aziz Bhaban (2nd floor), 93, Motijheel C/A, Dhaka-1000.
Phone: PABX- 41053001-06; Advertisement: 41053012; 01793317829, 01550707291, E-mail: [email protected], [email protected] Online: email: [email protected] 41053014; 01550707297 Advertisement: 01550707296
