Cumilla's Debidwar union panel chairman dismissed over birth registration forgery

The Local Government Division has dismissed Md Salahuddin Ruhul, panel chairman of No. 6 Fatehabad Union Parishad in Debidwar, Cumilla, over birth registration forgery. Earlier, the union's administrative officer, Md Nazrul Islam, was dismissed on the same allegation.

A notification signed on Wednesday, November 11, by Atikul Islam, senior assistant secretary of the division's UP-1 branch, confirmed the chairman's dismissal. The notification said the order was issued by order of the President and with the approval of the appropriate authority, and would take effect immediately.

The notification said the authenticity of the permanent addresses stated in three birth registration certificates issued by the accused panel chairman could not be established. Although the applicants were not permanent residents of the union concerned, he completed the registrations without properly verifying that.

It also said he kept the registrar's ID and password with another person, showing serious negligence in performing his official duties, which is unlawful from an administrative point of view. Because these acts were against the interests of the Union Parishad and the public, offences were committed under sections 34(4)(b) and (d) of the Local Government (Union Parishad) Act, 2009.

In view of that, he was dismissed from the post under section 34(1) of the same act, the notification said. Copies of the order were sent to the Cumilla deputy commissioner and the other offices concerned so the order could be implemented.

Earlier, on September 3, the union's administrative officer (UP secretary), Md Nazrul Islam, was dismissed. The back-to-back action against two officials of the same Union Parishad has become a talking point in Debidwar.

Upazila Nirbahi Officer Ashok Bikram Chakma said he had heard about the matter, but the order had not yet reached them by email or at the office.

A birth registration certificate is used as a citizen's primary official proof of identity and address. Issuing certificates without verifying the permanent address can open the way for people to obtain various government services under a false identity, the notification indicated.

With this action by the Local Government Division, the dismissal orders against both the administrative officer and the panel chairman are now in force. How the Union Parishad's day-to-day work will run will be known from the next instructions of the authorities concerned.

Residents of No. 6 Fatehabad Union in Debidwar whose birth registration applications are pending are now waiting for the authorities' next decision on their cases.