Noakhali Correspondent

There have been allegations of bribery, corruption and irregularities in the Begumganj Upazila Election Office of Noakhali, in which citizens of other districts are being issued National Identity Cards (NIDs) by inflating their age using fake documents. It is alleged that a powerful syndicate has been formed consisting of some office officials, employees and brokers to institutionalize these irregularities. This syndicate is led by data entry operators Nazmul and Tamanna Akhter.

According to reliable sources, the Election Commission has already started an investigation into the matter.

According to the information, increasing the age during the voter registration process, becoming a resident of a different district and voting elsewhere, or creating a fake NID are completely illegal and punishable offenses. Sections 468 and 471 of the Penal Code provide for life imprisonment or a maximum of seven years imprisonment and a fine if fraud and use of fake documents are proven.

There are allegations that the Begumganj election office has now become a den of corruption. Almost every service here, including registering a new voter, correcting NID, and transferring voters, is not available without bribes. If the money is not paid, ordinary people are subjected to various harassments.

Meanwhile, a photo of office peon Shahid taking 70,000 taka from a victim has gone viral on social media, causing widespread public reaction.

The victims allege that people from various areas, including Ramganj in neighboring Lakshmipur district, are being brought in to vote in Begumganj by creating fake birth certificates. A bribe of Tk 30,000 or more is being taken for each NID.

The victim, Shihab Hossain, said that he became a voter in Begumganj by collecting his birth certificate from the Dhaka North City Corporation at an increased age. For this, he had to pay a bribe of Tk 30,000 to the office's data entry operators Nazmul and Tamanna Akhter.

Similarly, Mostakir Rahman Nishat also alleged that he became a voter by paying bribes in the same process. In addition, it is known that many others, including Sheikh Mohammad Rabbi, became voters through the same tactic using fake documents.

There are allegations that the Nazmul-Tamanna Akhtar syndicate brought at least 400 to 500 people from Ramganj Upazila of Lakshmipur and gave them NIDs in Begumganj in exchange for irregularities, corruption and bribes.

The victims said that the syndicate members first determined the bribe amount through bargaining. Later, the money was deposited with the syndicate controllers Nazmul and Tamanna Akhtar and later it was distributed among the concerned officials and employees.

An employee of the district election office, who did not wish to be named, said that for a long time, residents of Lakshmipur, Feni and Chandpur districts have also been voting in Begumganj and large sums of money are being exchanged in exchange for this.

However, the accused data entry operator Nazmul denied these allegations, saying that he was not involved in any irregularities and did not help people from outside the district register as voters.

Meanwhile, Ramganj Upazila Election Officer Obaidur Rahman of Lakshmipur said that many citizens of his area are voting in Begumganj with false information because they are unable to get NID there due to paperwork errors. The matter is under investigation.

Begumganj Upazila Election Officer Bulbul Ahmed said that some voters were registered as voters by showing their parents' addresses in Begumganj, while many others were registered as voters here from other districts. However, he was not sure how this happened.

Regarding allegations of bribery and irregularities, he said that no such allegations have been officially received by him. However, if the allegations are found to be true, action will be taken against those concerned.