Writ against Nahid based on fake info: Rumor Scanner

The writ petition challenging the election candidacy of NCP Convener Nahid Islam is based on “fake and manipulated information,” said fact-checker Rumor Scanner on Monday evening.

The writ refers to a passport of Dominican Republic, a Caribbean island nation, registered with Nahid Islam, and claims that for being a foreign national, Nahid must lose his candidacy in the Dhaka-11 constituency ahead of the 12 February general elections.

Nahid deliberated hid his “dual citizenship” in nomination papers, the writ petitioner, Jatiya Party (JaPa) candidate Shamim Ahmed, alleges.

However, Nahid’s passport, which has gone viral on social media, is fake, Rumor Scanner claims. It has been prepared by taking a sample of a Dominican Republic passport available online and superimposing the user information fields with Nahid’s identity information.

The sample passports are available on the websites of “Paulo Travels” and “uruperu,” Rumor Scanner said.

The false passport of Nahid has the same barcode as the sample available on “uruperu” website. The barcode of a passport is exclusive and unique to a single holder.

There is a different number beneath the barcode on Nahid’s passport, but the figure has been intentionally doctored to look different from the sample. When the barcode is scanned the original number printed on the sample passport appears, Rumor Scanner said.

Nahid’s viral passport is in reality a sample blank passport of Dominican Republic.

Nahid’s signature printed on the “doctored passport” has been taken from the image of the signature available on Wikipedia. The density of the writing and underline stroke are identical, Rumor Scanner said.

Furthermore, Nahid’s image on the passport is almost the same as the one available on a media report concerning him. The facial expression and dress are the same.