Three outsourcing workers at the Netrokona election office have been dismissed for allegedly helping a Rohingya man from Cox’s Bazar obtain a Bangladeshi national identity card (NID) in exchange for money in Kalmakanda upazila.
The terminated workers are data entry operators Kanchan Mia, Arif Mia, and scanning operator Smaran Sarkar Hira of the Kalmakanda Upazila Election Office, confirmed Netrokona District Election Officer Mohammad Tofayel Hossain today.
The district election officer told The Daily Star that an investigating committee formed on the directive of the Election Commission found the allegations true based on a specific complaint. The three were dismissed on Monday.
Sources from the election office said arrangements were made to secure both an NID and a Bangladeshi passport for a Rohingya individual in the Ramnathpur Pagla area of Kalmakanda. Similar allegations surfaced in Netrokona Sadar, where another Rohingya person was allegedly issued an NID. Accusations have also been raised of collusion by election office staffers.
The issue first came to light in January through media reports, prompting the Election Commission to order an investigation. The Mymensingh Regional Election Officer conducted the probe. After a lengthy inquiry, the three outsourcing employees at Kalmakanda were found guilty and dismissed.
Administrative action was yet to be taken against permanent election officials implicated in the incident.
District Election Officer Tofayel Hossain said, “Following the allegation and probe, three outsourcing workers have been dismissed. They are not permanent employees; they were engaged through an agency.”
He added that investigations into several similar allegations in the district election office are still ongoing.
Meanwhile, it has been alleged that dismissed data entry operator Kanchan Mia issued death threats to daily Kaler Kantho’s Netrokona correspondent Ibad Hossain over phone on Monday after losing his job. The journalist filed a written complaint with Netrokona Model Police Station on Tuesday.
Contacted for comments, Kanchan Mia did not deny the allegations, saying he was mentally stressed and angry after getting fired.
He admitted to verbally abusing the journalist and said he later apologised for his behaviour.
Netrokona Model Police Station Officer‑in‑Charge Abul Khayer confirmed receiving the complaint and said legal action would be taken after investigation.
