BTRC official uses false information to obtain US visa

Although the government order (GO) mentioned that the BTRC would bear the travel expenses of the official, no such approval was issued by the organization’s financial division.

A BTRC official has allegedly provided false information in a government order to secure a US visa. The official in question is Md. Mirajul Islam, who serves as deputy director in BTRC’s Administration Division. He is currently on leave and staying in the United States. While he is personally covering his travel expenses, the government order stated that he would be attending the ICANN Community Forum 2025 in Seattle, U.S., with financial support from BTRC. However, multiple sources from BTRC have confirmed that no financial approval was granted, nor was any GO related to his expenses issued. The concerned BTRC officials have also attempted to cover up the matter by providing inconsistent information.

When asked whether any financial GO was issued for Mirajul Islam’s travel expenses, BTRC’s Director General of the Administration Division, Abdullah Al Mamun, stated on Monday, “A GO has been issued; it is available on the website.” However, when informed that no such GO was found on the website, he asked to be contacted the next day.

Upon following up on Tuesday, he responded, “The original GO was later corrected. It has been revised, and he (Mirajul Islam) is now abroad on leave.” When asked whether false information was provided in Mirajul Islam’s government order solely to secure a U.S. visa, he failed to provide a satisfactory answer.

Documents available on the BTRC website indicate that on January 19, the commission’s administration division issued a government order stating that Md. Mirajul Islam would attend the ICANN Community Forum 2025 in Seattle from March 8 to March 13, and BTRC would bear all his travel expenses.

However, on February 27, another government order was issued concerning his US travel, stating that from March 14 to April 1, Mirajul Islam would be on personal leave in the US, covering all expenses himself.

Reliable sources have revealed that Mirajul Islam primarily traveled to the U.S. to visit his family. His wife is also a BTRC official, reportedly appointed through a direct reference from Sheikh Hasina’s daughter, Saima Wazed Putul. Fearing potential visa complications without official approval for a government trip, he allegedly resorted to fraud while applying for his U.S. visa.

Observers argue that this is not just a case of personal fraud but a serious instance of misleading the US embassy through a key state institution. BTRC officials are also outraged over the matter.

They claim that a government official using the pretense of an official trip for personal travel, submitting false information for a visa, and exploiting a state institution’s name for deception poses a significant threat to administrative transparency.

Despite the gravity of the incident, BTRC has yet to take any formal action against Mirajul Islam.