102 Rohingyas obtain birth certificate illegally, police find

A total of 102 Rohingyas have obtained birth certificates illegally while concealing their identities from various parts of the country, including the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC).

Among them, 49 registrations were obtained from different zone offices of Dhaka North, according to police.

On 26 May, the Special Branch of Police's passport wing sent a letter to the Office of the Registrar General for Birth and Death Registration (ORGBDR) requesting the cancellation of these birth registrations.

"We have suspended the birth registration numbers following a complaint from the Special Branch of Police. The officers involved in the registrations have been promptly summoned. Our ICT department is actively addressing the issue," said Samiul Islam Rahad, assistant registrar general at the Office of the Registrar General for Birth and Death Registration.

The Business Standard has obtained a list of 77 of the Rohingyas who received birth certificates.

Among them, Dhaka North City issued 42 certificates, Damodarpur Union Parishad in Badarganj, Rangpur issued 23 certificates, Gotapara Union Parishad in Bagerhat issued 11 certificates, and Charkaowa Union Parishad in Barishal Sadar Upazila issued one certificate.

Among different zones in Dhaka north, zone-2 issued nine certificates, zone-3 issued 17 certificates, zone-4 issued 14 certificates, zone-5 issued one certificate, and zone-9 issued one certificate for Rohingya individuals.

Additionally, Banaripara upazila issued a national identification card to a Rohingya man.

Brigadier General Imru-al-Quais, chief health officer of Dhaka North City Corporation, told TBS, "We thoroughly examined the numbers we received. They were not registered in any of our zones. They may have obtained the registrations from elsewhere. On Monday [10 June], we provided an explanation to the Registrar General, stating that these birth registration numbers are invalid and not authentic."

What the letter says

"The attached list includes 102 individuals who have obtained birth registrations illegally from various places and have collected Bangladeshi passports using these registrations," read the letter sent on 26 May by the Special Branch of Bangladesh Police's passport wing.  

"Further investigation based on intelligence information revealed that the permanent addresses mentioned in the passports of the listed individuals were incorrect," it added.

The letter said, "Intelligence and further investigation reports have revealed that the individuals next to their names have fraudulently obtained Bangladeshi birth registration certificates with the assistance of brokers, officials, local representatives, and by other means.

"The individuals listed in the roster are citizens of Myanmar belonging to the Rohingya community," it added.

The letter also mentioned the cancellation of birth registrations issued in the names of the Rohingyas listed and advised taking necessary actions against the individuals involved in facilitating these registrations illegally, as per the regulations.

In the context of this letter, the ORGBDR sent letters to the Dhaka North City Corporation and other relevant departments, requesting them to appear personally within five working days to provide an explanation.

"Approximately 49 Rohingya citizens have completed their birth registration from Dhaka north. Notably, the birth certificates of these 49 illegally registered Rohingya citizens have already been suspended from the BDRIS system," said a letter sent to the chief health officer of Dhaka north.

Later, on Sunday (9 June), Dhaka North directed the chief health officer and all regional executive officers to provide an explanation.

A letter signed by Dhaka North's Secretary Mohammad Masud Alam Siddique reads, "As per the subject above and the content of the cited letter, it is necessary to ensure that the officers/employees responsible for issuing birth certificates to the mentioned Rohingya citizens are present in a timely and proper manner at the designated places to provide explanations."

It illustrates widespread corruption, irregularities, TIB chief

Talking to TBS, Iftekharuzzaman, executive director of Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB), said the matter illustrates "the widespread corruption and irregularities that have occurred in the country".

"This is not the first irregularity regarding birth registration either. It has happened before," he said.

He said, "Those involved in such activities must be identified and brought under the law swiftly to ensure punishment. Those among the Rohingyas who have obtained birth certificates through improper means are as much to blame as the organised groups and officials involved.

"Our actions have a significant international impact. These are the reasons why foreigners treat the Bangladeshi passport differently," added Iftakharuzzaman.

He further stated, "There is a group within the country that helps the Rohingyas in this way. Whether they do so from within the country or abroad, if they engage in any anonymous and illegal activities, all the responsibility will fall on Bangladesh."