In the birth registration, the name of the mother is also known in society as the daughter of the woman. She raised her on her lap, enrolled her in a famous educational institution, gave her the identity of her family. But after 15 years, that woman told me that she was not my daughter. In 2008, the birth of a child was registered at the Ward Council Office No. 8 of Rajshahi City Corporation. In that registration, the child’s name was written as Claudia Chowdhury Payel. The mother was mentioned as the name of Dr. Shipra Chowdhury, a renowned gynecologist of Rajshahi, and the name of her husband Dr. Obaidur Rahman was written as the father. From then on, Payel’s identity was completely clear. She was Dr. She was known to her family, society and the state as Shipra Chowdhury’s daughter. Studying at a prestigious educational institution in Rajshahi, growing up in an elite environment, traveling the country and abroad with her doctor mother, all of this made her spend her childhood and adolescence like the children of a high-class family. But in November 2022, the foundation of that identity seemed to collapse. At one point in the family’s various tensions, Dr. Shipra Chowdhury claimed that there was a change in her behavior.
Once she was told that she was actually not Dr. Shipra Chowdhury’s biological child. Rather, she was an adopted child. Not only that, she was also told that her real home was in Shibganj Upazila of Chapainawabganj and her real father was a mason. Suddenly, Payal was faced with questions about her own existence after hearing such things. She told the news media, “I grew up with them since childhood. They were my everything when it came to family members. My father lived separately. Later, he told me that I was not his own daughter, I was an adopted child. I was completely devastated after hearing these words. Because if the identity I grew up with is not true, then who am I?’ Payel claims, ‘The matter was not limited to verbally denying the relationship. Then, initiatives were taken to change various documents, including her birth registration. In 2023, the information in her birth registration was corrected. Along with this, changes were also made to her academic documents. Even in 2010, a case was filed demanding the return of the land that was donated in Payel’s name in her daughter’s name.’
Payel said, ‘The most surprising thing is that I don’t know how the documents that they created were changed. One information in my NID card, another information in my birth registration, and another information in my educational documents. Due to these reasons, I am facing problems in various places. There were complications even during my admission to college. A year of my studies has been wasted. I am still facing problems in various places while trying to prove my identity.’
Abul Kalam Azad, Secretary of Ward No. 8 of Rajshahi City Corporation, said that around January 2023, Dr. Shipra Chowdhury came to their office and claimed that Claudia Chowdhury Payel was not her own child. Then they wanted to know, if she was not a child, then why did she sign as the mother during the birth registration? She said, ‘We told her, if you now say that the girl is not your child, then the information you gave earlier is misleading. The matter also seems unusual to us.’
Meanwhile, it is known from confidential sources that Claudia Chowdhury Payel loves a boy. However, Dr. Shipra Chowdhury does not like that boy. That is why she revealed Payel’s real identity. Another dramatic aspect of the incident comes to the fore in the statement of the parents who were added to the new birth registration. The names of Babul Mia and Togri Begum of Shibganj Upazila of Chapainawabganj were included as Payel’s parents in the revised registration.
However, Togri Begum claimed that Payel was not their biological child. She said, ‘This is not true. You can find out the matter by asking the people of the area. How our name was used is also a question.’
On the other hand, Babul Mia’s statement is completely different. He said, ‘Dr. Shipra Chowdhury took my daughter when she was young. At that time, it was said that I should not have any claim in the future. A paper was also signed. It was said that the girl would grow up in their identity. Now, after so many years, I don’t understand why she is being denied.’
Local resident Abdur Rahman also gave similar information and said, ‘We know that Dr. Madam came and took the child when she was young. At that time, Babul’s family was told that no claim could be made on the child in the future. They were even discouraged from visiting. Now, the reason for the sudden denial of identity is not clear to us either.’
Mobarakpur Union Parishad Chairman Mahmudul Haque Haidari said, a certificate was taken from us. We are not sure what it was used for later. However, I have heard that the birth registration information was changed based on that document. As far as I know, the child was almost permanently handed over to another family.
Explaining this issue from a legal perspective, Rajshahi senior lawyer Advocate Jamshed Ali said, “If it is proven that Payal is not the legitimate child of Dr. Shipra Chowdhury, then she will not be an heir under the inheritance law. However, if she is raised in one identity for a long time and is harmed by denying that identity, there may be an opportunity to claim compensation. Considering the situation, the girl can seek legal redress.”