Biometrics Stolen in Jhenaidah Fraud to Frame Women in Criminal Cases

A well-organised group has been collecting sensitive biometric data, including iris scans, fingerprints and national identity card (NID) information, from innocent rural women on the pretext of providing free healthcare. The data is allegedly being misused to implicate the women in cases involving the embezzlement of money through bKash and Nagad.
Panic has spread across the area after letters seeking information about women from Jhenaidah were recently sent in connection with cybercrime and fraud cases filed in different districts of the country.
According to local sources and victims, people have been visiting homes in different villages of Holidhani Union in Jhenaidah Sadar Upazila for some time, collecting women’s information on the pretext of providing healthcare. The women, believing it to be a regular government or private healthcare initiative, provided their NIDs and biometric data. However, the alleged fraud came to light soon afterwards.
Recently, the name of Ms. Jahanara Begum from Ramchandrapur in Jhenaidah Sadar surfaced in a cybercrime case filed with a Chattogram Metropolitan Police station. Similarly, in a case filed with Tala Police Station in Satkhira, the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) sent an inquiry slip to Jhenaidah Sadar Police Station seeking verification of the identity and police record of Ms. Nasima Khatun from Holidhani. The alleged fraud came to light following these incidents.
Several residents of Ramchandrapur in Holidhani Union, including Ms. Jamila Khatun, Ms. Sonia Khatun, Ms. Rahima Khatun and Mr. Abdul Haque, alleged that the same biometric data had been collected from around 300 women in the area, not just the two women whose names surfaced in the cases.
Victim Ms. Rahima Khatun expressed her anger, saying they had never embezzled any money through bKash or Nagad. They are now at a loss to understand how their information, collected in the name of healthcare services, has resulted in their names being linked to cases in other districts.
Local resident Mr. Zahidul Islam Babu called for a proper investigation into the incident. He said an organised group was stealing digital data to commit financial fraud and subjecting innocent people to legal complications.
Jhenaidah Sadar Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Mr. Asaduzzaman said on Wednesday afternoon that an investigation into the matter had already begun. He said the truth would only be known after the entire incident was investigated.
He also urged the public to remain cautious, saying that if any stranger comes to their homes and asks for personal information, including NIDs, iris scans or fingerprints, it should not be provided under any circumstances.