Hundreds of Bangladeshi citizens trapped in identity crisis after registering as Rohingya for aid relief
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Hundreds of Bangladeshi citizens in Cox’s Bazar are facing severe administrative hurdles in obtaining passports after their biometric data was erroneously linked to the Rohingya refugee database. Many of these individuals, lured by aid programs, had previously registered as refugees to receive relief supplies, inadvertently triggering a system flag that now prevents them from proving their national identity for official documents.
The issue stems from the integration of the Rohingya biometric database with the national identity (NID) server via Application Programming Interface (API) technology. This system, implemented to enhance security and prevent fraudulent passport applications, now causes the fingerprints of registered Bangladeshis to return “refugee” matches during passport processing.
Mizanur Rahman, a 21-year-old resident of the Lambasia camp area in Ukhiya, is one such citizen. While attempting to apply for a passport to work in Saudi Arabia, his application was suspended after his fingerprints were identified in the refugee database. Mizanur’s father, Mostak Mia, a lifelong Bangladeshi resident, admitted that his family had registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) years ago to access aid, not realizing it would compromise their legal status as citizens.
Local representatives confirm the scale of the problem. Helal Uddin, a ward member in Rajapalong Union, stated that at least 30 people in his ward are currently affected. Similarly, Palongkhali Union Parishad Chairman M. Gafur Uddin Chowdhury noted that 50 to 60 applications have been forwarded to the district administration and the Office of the Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner (RRRC) to rectify these erroneous entries.
Authorities at the Cox’s Bazar regional passport office have clarified that they cannot issue passports to those whose biometrics appear in the refugee database. Assistant Directors Mohammad Mobarak Hossain and Mohammad Shahid Ullah emphasized that applicants must first obtain official clearance to have their names removed from the refugee records before their passport applications can proceed.
Investigations reveal that approximately 420 out of 500 Bangladeshi families residing near the Kutupalong and Lambasia camps had registered as refugees. Reports suggest that some residents were facilitated by unscrupulous camp intermediaries who charged fees to include them in the aid-seeking database.
RRRC and Additional Secretary Mohammad Mizanur Rahman confirmed that they are currently processing approximately 1,000 applications from people seeking removal from the refugee list. Once the district administration verifies the citizenship of these individuals, the office recommends their deletion to the UNHCR.
Deputy Commissioner Md. Abdul Mannan warned that registering as a refugee to claim aid is illegal. He stated that each application is being subjected to rigorous background checks to verify citizenship before any corrective action is taken.
UNHCR Bangladesh Communications Officer Shari Nijman stated that the organization is aware of the situation and has a formal mechanism in place to review such cases. According to Nijman, the UNHCR works in coordination with the Bangladesh government to ensure that only those confirmed as citizens are removed from the registry, noting that while procedures are in place to prevent non-refugees from registering, the organization is treating these isolated errors with high priority.
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