JKG’s Sabrina: Errant officials to face action for issuing her two NIDs

The Election Commission  will take action if any of its officials is found involved in handing two National Identity cards to JKG Health Care's Dr Sabrina Arif Chowdhury, who is now in jail on charge of issuing fake Covid-19 certificates.

"Action will be taken against the officials and other staffers if found involved in issuing the two NIDs,"  EC Senior Secretary Md Alamgir said yesterday, while replying to reporters' questions.

The Anti-Corruption Commission has been looking into illegal assets of Sabrina and her husband JKG Chief Executive Officer Ariful Chowdhury.

During the investigation, ACC officials found that Sabrina had two NIDs, said sources at the anti-graft watchdog.

The ACC, on July 13, had begun the enquiry against Sabrina and her husband.

On August 19, ACC Deputy Director Selina Akhter Moni in a letter requested the EC to inform her whether anyone could have two NIDs.

The EC secretary said they received the ACC's letter. "The NID wing of the EC looks after the matter. We've asked them to send them a reply by today," he said.

"If the matter of dual NIDs turns out to be true and if any EC official is found involved, we'll take action," he said.

Sources said Sabrina got two NIDs for two different areas. She gave different particulars in the two NIDs.

In one NID, she said her date of birth is December 2, 1978, while it is December 2, 1983, in the other. She also used different names as her spouse.

On August 20, a Dhaka court framed charges against eight people, including Sabrina and Arif, in a case filed over issuing fake Covid-19 certificates.

The trial of the case is scheduled to begin today.

In the charge sheet, the IO said, as per direction of Sabrina and Ariful, the other accused collected samples from patients, prepared fake Covid-19 certificates, and supplied those to the patients.