Former Mayor Accused of Issuing Illegal Birth Certificates to Indian Nationals

Despite multiple written complaints filed with the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), locals have expressed frustration over the lack of visible action against the former mayor. According to the allegations, in 2019, two brothers—Manoj Kumar Saha and Rajiv Kumar Saha—were issued Bangladeshi birth certificates identifying them as residents of Ward No. 2 of Badarganj Municipality. In reality, both individuals are permanent residents of Barrackpore in the North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal, India, and hold Indian passports.

The investigation reveals that the forgery extended beyond birth records. A death certificate was issued by the Badarganj Municipality on January 31, 2019, for the brothers' mother, Arati Rani Saha. While she reportedly passed away while undergoing treatment in India, the local certificate was allegedly created to facilitate legal maneuvers in Bangladesh. Pradip Kumar Saha, the primary complainant, claims these documents were forged with the direct cooperation of the former mayor to secure ownership of prime real estate. The property in question, formerly owned by Rajkumar Saha in the heart of Badarganj town, is estimated to be worth over Tk 100 crore.

Although the complainants have submitted detailed evidence of the individuals' Indian identities to the ACC, they allege that the investigation has seen little progress. The former mayor, Uttam Kumar Saha, has denied intentional wrongdoing, claiming he issued the new certificates using a 1995 birth record as a reference. However, investigators have yet to find any documentary evidence supporting the existence of that older record. The Rangpur Integrated District Office of the Anti-Corruption Commission has confirmed that an inquiry is currently underway and officials stated that legal action will be initiated once the investigation is concluded.