National Identity Cards (NID) of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and ten of her family members have been locked.

The ten people whose NIDs have been locked are: Sheikh Hasina, Sajeeb Ahmed Wazed, Saima Wazed, Rehana Siddiq, Tulip Rizwana Siddiq, Azmina Siddiq, Shaheen Siddiq, Bushra Siddiq, Radwan Mujib Siddiq, and Tarique Ahmed Siddiq.

An official order was signed in this regard by the Director General of the NID wing, ASM Humayun Kabir.

He said that the NIDs of ten individuals were locked based on verbal instructions.

A senior official from the Election Commission’s NID wing confirming the matter said action was taken about a month ago under instructions from higher authorities. 

The official said that in many cases, VVIPs themselves request the locking of their NIDs to prevent misuse. The NIDs can be unlocked when needed.

According to the official, locking an NID does not affect a person’s right to vote or run for election.

NID wing’s System Manager Mohammad Ashraf Hossain said a locked NID cannot be used for any service, including bank transactions, where NID verification is required. He added that NIDs are sometimes locked during investigations involving false information or on request to prevent unauthorized use.

Currently, Bangladesh Bank has also frozen the bank accounts of Sheikh Hasina and her family members. As NID verification is needed to withdraw money, the account suspension remains effective.

BDST: 1628 HRS, April 21, 2025
MSK