Shahinur Rahman Sona, Rajshahi

A complainant has questioned the pace of investigation and complaint disposal by officials of Bangladesh Railway (West), including the Office of the Chief Mechanical Engineer (CME) in Rajshahi. He alleged that nearly two years have passed without an effective resolution and claimed that key documentary evidence was not properly examined during the investigation.

According to sources, in September 2024, Md. Harun submitted a written complaint to the Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) of Pakshi against Musa Fakir, a fitter under the Rajbari Mechanical Engineering Division of Bangladesh Railway (West). The complaint alleged illegal acquisition of wealth, irregularities in securing government employment, and forgery involving his National Identity Card (NID) and birth registration, among other allegations.

Harun further alleged that after filing the complaint, he was abducted at gunpoint, assaulted, and forced to sign a document withdrawing his complaint. Later, in August 2025, his wife, Farida Parveen, submitted another complaint to the General Manager (GM) of Bangladesh Railway (West).

Taking the matter into consideration, the then General Manager (West), Farid Ahmed, formed a three-member investigation committee headed by Divisional Mechanical Engineer (DME) Robiul Islam. The other members were DPO Md. Ferdous and DSTE Ahmed Ishtiaq Jahur. After nearly eight months of investigation, the committee submitted a four-page report concluding that the allegations could not be substantiated.

Harun, however, claimed that the committee failed to properly examine important documents he had submitted. According to him, inconsistencies become evident when comparing Musa Fakir's previous and current birth registrations, National Identity Cards, his daughter's National Identity Card, and the family's inheritance certificate.

He alleged that Musa Fakir's National Identity Card issued in 2008 recorded his date of birth as 22 December 1972, while a new National Identity Card issued in 2023 listed his date of birth as 5 July 1982. Harun also claimed that the revised birth date conflicts with the age recorded on his eldest daughter's National Identity Card and with the ages of other family members mentioned in the inheritance certificate.

Harun further alleged that although he submitted another application on 19 April 2026, it has remained pending at the Office of the Chief Mechanical Engineer without any final decision.

Responding to the allegations, Musa Fakir denied committing any forgery by obtaining a second National Identity Card. He said, "I was admitted to school at a relatively older age. My National Identity Card was prepared according to my school certificate."

His wife said, "At that time, there was an opportunity to reduce one's age for government employment, which is why it was done."

Musa Fakir's daughter, Mousumi, said, "My father's name was Matiar Rahman in the school records, which is why that name appears on my National Identity Card. The age correction was made in accordance with the requirements for government service."

Defending the investigation, Divisional Mechanical Engineer (DME) Robiul Islam said, "We conducted the inquiry in accordance with the rules. We visited the school concerned, and the headmaster confirmed that the school certificate was authentic. We also verified the National Identity Card submitted by Musa Fakir through the Election Commission after paying the prescribed government fee, and it was found to be valid."

When asked whether the committee had examined the previous birth registration, the earlier National Identity Card, and his daughter's National Identity Card submitted by the complainant, Robiul Islam replied, "We carried out everything that was permissible under the applicable government rules."

No statement could be obtained from former Secretary Shah Md. Emdad, who was mentioned in the allegations.

Attempts were also made to obtain comments from Chief Mechanical Engineer (West) Aminul Islam. He was not available at his office. Later, when contacted by phone, he disconnected the call after learning that the caller was a journalist. A text message sent afterward also received no response.

The complainant has called for a fresh, impartial investigation into the allegations.