In a startling twist, four birth certificates were controversially issued in Dhaka North City Corporation’s Zone-4 to Kolkata residents and Indian citizens, raising serious questions about the process.

Disturbingly, the applications for all four certificates listed only a single phone number, belonging to Bijoy Ghosh and Israfil, both residents of Keraniganj.

Moreover, the application forms were glaringly incomplete, lacking crucial documents to verify local addresses and birthplaces, while the names and seals of officials used appeared highly irregular and inappropriate. The four individuals who inexplicably received the certificates are Shapan Ghosh, Ramprasad Ghosh, Ranjan Ghosh, and Komol Ghosh.

A report from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) revealed that the certificates were allegedly forged to seize disputed land previously sold to Indian citizens before the country’s independence.

According to a report from the Registrar General of Birth and Death Registration, Assistant Birth Registrar Bilkish Akther admitted during interrogation that the user ID and password had been handed over to others.

Apart from this, 49 forcibly displaced Myanmar citizens were shockingly issued birth certificates by the DNCC. According to the Registrar General of Birth and Death Registration, Zone-2 issued 9 certificates, Zone-3 issued 17, Zone-4 issued 14, and Zone-5 issued 9. The incidents occurred in November 2023, prompting the Office of the Registrar General of Birth and Death Registration to file a case, which was subsequently taken over and investigated by the CID. The CID identified several individuals involved, including health officers Dr Firoz Alam, Farzana Afroj, Dr Azizun Nesa, Dr Mahmuda Ali, and Dr Wasimul Islam, as well as assistant birth registrars Tania Parvin, Fabia Akther, Sheikh Mofazzal Hossain, and Abdul Mannan Kotwal.

Police had earlier arrested DNCC vaccinator Kohinoor Begum and spray man Hasan Tareq for their alleged role in issuing birth certificates without the required documents. Additionally, allegations have surfaced that Sheikh Mofazzal Hossain, Abdul Mannan Kotwal, and Tania, a 20th-grade attendant from the Social Welfare Department and Assistant Registrar, were illegally involved in overcharging applicants beyond the prescribed fees. The registrar general’s office stated that the accused violated Section 21(3) of the Birth and Death Registration Act, 2004, an offence punishable by a fine of Tk5,000 or up to one year of simple imprisonment.

On 13 August 2024, the Local Government Division sent a letter to the DNCC directing action against nine DNCC employees, including health officers, and requested a report on the measures taken.

The LGD also forwarded the findings of the CID and the Office of Birth and Death Registration to the DNCC, but the corporation has yet to take any action against the implicated employees. Despite forming several committees to probe the allegations, the DNCC later withdrew the temporary suspension orders against the accused, reinstating them to their positions amid growing public outrage.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, a top DNCC official said, “The accused have blamed the Office of the Registrar General of Birth and Death Registration, claiming its staff leaked passwords to outsiders. They also argue that they could not verify the documents due to a lack of authority, sufficient time, and proper mechanisms.” Speaking to the Daily Sun, one of the accused, Assistant Health Officer Dr Mahmuda Ali, said, “A massive hacking occurred in November 2022, and certificates were issued for 49 Rohingyas. Our computer used for birth certificates was hacked, which we reported to the registrar’s office in writing.”

She also said, “It all originated from the registrar’s office, yet they are shifting the blame onto us. Our former chief executive officer investigated us and later formed a separate committee to further probe the matter, which is still ongoing.” When approached, DNCC Administrator Mohammad Azaz said, “I am not aware of the matter. I will look into it and see what transpires.” Speaking to the Daily Sun, public administration expert and former additional secretary Firoz Mia said, “The birth certificates were issued to foreign nationals, and someone is responsible. If everyone is acquitted, it would imply that no one is being held accountable.” He urged the LGD to launch a fresh inquiry into the allegations to identify the true perpetrators.

Edited by Mehedi Hasan