The Election Commission (EC) has decided to use 10-digit unique numbers for national smart ID cards in order to make them versatile.

EC officials said a person will be able to access all civic facilities with the help of the card.
 
The 10-digit numbers will be activated once a card is issued.
 
More than 96.2 million voters have national ID cards at present. At least 80 million of them were given 13-digit numbers in 2008.
 
And over 15 million, who were included during the update, got 17-digit numbers.
 
The commission opted for 10 digits in its meeting on Tuesday.
 
Election Commissioner Md Shah Nawaz said the national identity registration wing placed the proposal after consulting experts.
 
The commission, he added, endorsed it considering the overall benefits.
 
EC Secretary Md Sirajul Islam said the process of making smart cards was now in its final stages.
 
“We are trying to distribute them as soon as possible,” he added.

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