Teknaf, Oct 18 (V7N) — Local authorities have launched an investigation after allegations surfaced that a Rohingya youth, identified as Abdul Aziz, obtained a Bangladeshi national identity card (NID) by concealing his background and has been working on St. Martin’s Island as an outsourced employee of the Department of Environment.
 
The matter came to light after a news report published on October 8 alleged that Aziz, who is employed on St. Martin’s as a beach worker, had procured a Bangladeshi NID using false information and was serving on government outsourcing payrolls. Following the publication, the Upazila administration and the local election office initiated inquiries.
 
“Asif Mahmud Minhaj, the acting Teknaf Upazila Election Officer, said the allegation is that Aziz used false documents to obtain an NID while presenting himself as a Bangladeshi who worked as an environment and beach worker on St. Martin’s. The matter is under investigation. If the allegations are proven, steps will be taken to cancel his NID,” Asif Mahmud Minhaj told reporters.
 
District administration and Department of Environment sources say Aziz currently serves as a member of the St. Martin’s Beach Management Committee and is also listed as an outsourced worker for the marine park under the department. Local residents say Aziz is the son of a Myanmar national named Abdul, who took refuge in Bangladesh with his wife in 1992. After Abdul’s death, Aziz’s mother reportedly remarried a local resident, Ali Ahmad, who raised Aziz.
 
According to statements gathered during the inquiry, Aziz applied for birth registration and an NID in 2017, listing Ali Ahmad as his father and Nur Nahar as his mother. The NID reportedly records his date of birth as 1 January 1992 — the same year his father first sought refuge in Bangladesh. Local sources have also leveled separate accusations that Aziz extorted money (“chanda”) from contractors during road construction projects on the island. Aziz has denied all allegations.
 
Teknaf Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Sheikh Ehsan Uddin confirmed that the UNO’s office has instructed the St. Martin’s union chairman to submit a fact-finding report. “We have asked the union chairman to investigate and provide a report so that further action can be taken,” the UNO said.
 
St. Martin’s Union Chairman Foyezul Islam said preliminary information suggests Aziz is of Rohingya origin. “The UNO has asked for a rapid and detailed investigation. We will verify the facts and submit a full report,” he said.
 
If the probe finds evidence of document fraud or illegal employment, authorities say they will pursue administrative and legal measures, including cancellation of the NID and any other consequences prescribed by law. The investigation remains ongoing, and officials have called for a thorough verification of Aziz’s identity and employment records before final action is taken.
 
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