When Bangladesh citizens have to face hurdles to get birth and death registration certificates, 101 Rohingyas have obtained birth certificates allegedly managing corrupt registrars across the country.

The matter has come to the light after the Special Branch of Police detected identities of Rohingyas who applied for Bangladeshi passports using the fake birth certificates.

Besides, proof has been found against a Rohingya man who illegally obtained a national identity (NID) card from Banaripara upazila election office.

Of the 101 Rohingyas, 49 received certificates from the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), according to police sources.

The Daily Sun has obtained a list of 77 Rohingyas who received fake birth certificates.

Of them, 42 received birth certificates from the DNCC, while Damodarpur union parishad under Badarganj upazila of Rangpur issued 23 certificates, Gotapara union parishad under Bagerhat district issued 11 certificates, and Charkaowa union parishad under Barishal sadar upazila issued a certificate. 

Among the DNCC zones, DNCC Zone-2 issued nine certificates to Rohingyas, while zone-3 issued 17 certificates, zone-4 issued 14, and zone-5 and zone-9 issued one certificate respectively.

According to a letter issued by the Office of the Registrar General, Birth and Death Registration and Special Branch of Police to offices that issue birth certificates it is said that the permanent addresses of 101 persons were found incorrect and further investigations revealed that they were from the forcibly displaced Rohingya community.

Sources said the Myanmar nationals obtained the birth certificates with help of a section of middlemen, dishonest staff and public representatives.

On 5 June, the Office of the Registrar General, Birth and Death Registration issued summon to the DNCC officials who were in charge of providing fake certificates.

Talking to the Daily Sun on Monday, Registrar General (additional secretary) Md Zahid Hossain said upon request of police, they already issued letters to relevant offices for revoking these certificates.

“Some staff and public representatives of different offices handed over the passwords to third parties and committed such misdemeanors,” he added.

Wishing anonymity, a DNCC said although the issuance of birth certificates is a sensitive matter, the city corporation authorities have engaged some lower-grade staff to provide this service.

DNCC Deputy Chief Health officer Lt Col Rubayet Ismat Ovik said, “Many Rohingyas visit foreign countries with Bangladeshi passports and many of them are involved in criminal activities.”

“We are investigating who were responsible for providing Rohingyas with birth certificates. If anyone is found guilty, we will take a stern action against them.”

Talking to the Daily Sun, Transparency International Bangladesh Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman said, “Those who are issuing fake birth certificates are bigger criminals than the Rohingyas who are taking the birth certificates.  All this happens through illegal transactions. Some staff and officials are involved in such crimes.”