Serious allegations have been raised against Rafiqul Islam, a freedom fighter and former commander of Sonatala Upazila Muktijoddha Sangsad in Bogra, for fraudulently claiming seven individuals as his children to secure jobs for them under the freedom fighter quota.
He reportedly took substantial amounts of money from these individuals in return for securing their employment.
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Bogra District Office has initiated legal action, filing three separate cases against three of the individuals falsely claimed as children, with Rafiqul Islam being the primary accused.
Following initial investigations, all three have been suspended from their positions in the police and fire services and investigations are ongoing regarding other allegations.
ACC Bogra office Deputy Director Jahangir Alam confirmed the matter on Saturday afternoon, saying that Rafiqul Islam and his wife, Rebeka Sultana, have two married daughters, Rasheda Akhtar and Morsheda Akhtar. However, Rafiqul allegedly facilitated jobs and other benefits under the freedom fighter quota for several local individuals by falsely identifying them as his children.
The seven individuals identified in this scam are Ahsan Habib, Ziaur Rahman, Belal Hossain, Forhad Hossain, Salek Uddin, Rakib Hasan, and Mousumi Akhtar.
Investigations revealed that Habib and Ziaur, sons of Zafar Ali from South Ranipara, secured their jobs by using the freedom fighter certificate provided by Rafiqul. Habib, who was a constable in the Reserve Force of Gaibandha Police, has been suspended after investigation. Ziaur has obtained various privileges, including a dealership of fertilizer.
Belal, son of the late Jobed Ali from Ranipara, secured a police job in 2001 by using the freedom fighter quota and served as an assistant town sub inspector (ATSI) in the Traffic Division of DMP before being suspended following the revelations about his background.
Forhad Hossain, son of Jahidul Islam from the same village, secured a job in the Fire Service and was suspended from Fulchhari Fire Service in Gaibandha.
Salek Uddin, son of Naib Ali, became a police constable in 2005. Rakib Hasan, son of Momimul Islam from the neighboring Jumarbari area, obtained a job at the Department of Social Services, and his niece Mousumi Akhtar was admitted to Bogra Government Azizul Haque College under the freedom fighter quota.
The allegations came to light when two freedom fighters, Makbul Hossain and Abdus Sattar, filed a complaint with the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs on October 17, 2021.
Subsequently, the ACC initiated an investigation, leading to the filing of three separate cases on January 30 by Deputy Director Jahid Hasan of ACC Bogra Office against Rafiqul Islam and his three alleged children, Belal, Forhad, and Ahsan.
In response to the allegations, Forhad’s father, Jahidul Islam, claimed: “Rafiqul Islam adopted his son after birth and helped him secure a government job under the freedom fighter quota, asserting there was no wrongdoing in this.”
Rafiqul Islam defended his actions by saying that he raised his three nephews, Belal, Forhad, and Ahsan Habib, as his own children and facilitated their employment under the quota.
He denied assisting anyone else in college admissions and accused some individuals of plotting against him.
ACC official Jahangir Alam reiterated that Rafiqul Islam fraudulently secured jobs for others’ children by presenting them as his own under the freedom fighter quota.