EC committee to probe NID fraud of Aziz's two brothers

The Election Commission (EC) will investigate allegations of two brothers of former army chief General (retd) Aziz Ahmed obtaining national identity cards 'using false information'.

The commission's NID wing has approved the formation of a three-member committee to investigate how Haris Ahmed and Tofail Ahmed alias Joseph obtained NID cards with false information.

Election Commissioner Anisur Rahman confirmed the matter on Sunday (June 9).

On May 21, the United States imposed sanctions on Aziz Ahmed and his family members on charges of corruption.

General (retd) Aziz was the Bangladesh Army Chief from June 2018 to June 2021. He headed the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) from 2012 to 2016.

Both Harris and Joseph are now believed to be overseas.

According to Election Commission sources, in the application filed by Joseph's mother for remission of sentence, Abdul Wadud and Renuza Begum are mentioned as Joseph's parents.

Aziz Ahmed's brother Tofail Ahmed alias Joseph has two NIDs. On an NID card of Tofail, the parents' names were Abdul Wadud and Renuza Begum. Another NID card shows his name Tanveer Ahmed Tanzil and his parents Suleman Sarkar and Rahela Begum.

And Haris took a NID card in the name of Mohammad Hasan, showing Suleman Sarkar and Rahela Begum as father and mother. He also changed his picture in NID card in 2019. The then Chief of Army Staff General (retd) Aziz Ahmed recommended the change in this picture.

According to the National Identity Registration Act-2010, giving false or distorted information or concealing information for obtaining NID card can be punished with imprisonment of one year or fine of Tk 20 thousand or both.

Forging an NID card or knowingly carrying a fake card is punishable with imprisonment of up to seven years or a fine of up to one lakh rupees. If any person helps to forge NID card, he will also face the same punishment.

Bangladesh /SBT