Police have arrested a former army personnel on allegations of cheating people by impersonating a major in the Bangladesh Army and the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI).
 
The arrested Asadul Islam is accused of collecting large sums of money from different people by promising them government jobs, transfers and promotions in exchange for financial benefits.
 
He was arrested during a joint operation by Gulshan Police Station and Santhia Police Station in Pabna at Cafe Colombia in the capital's Gulshan area around 11:00pm on Wednesday (November 12).
 
A source at Gulshan Police Station confirmed the arrest on Thursday (November 13).
 
According to police sources, Asadul previously served in the Bangladesh Army as a soldier but was dismissed from service in 2024 over allegations of involvement in misconduct.
 
He hails from Dhulauri village in Santhia upazila of Pabna district. His father's name is Abul Majid Molla.
 
Police alleged that after being dismissed from the army, Asadul began deceiving people by introducing himself as a major in the army and DGFI. He also claimed to be employed at the National Telecommunication Monitoring Centre (NTMC).
 
He allegedly boasted of having close connections with the home minister, law minister, secretaries of different ministries and other senior government officials.
 
Using these claims and his assumed military identity, he allegedly took money from various people by promising to arrange government jobs, transfers and promotions.
 
Police sources also said he had visited the Secretariat posing as a major and attempted to deceive secretaries of different ministries.
 
Police further said an arrest warrant had been issued against Asadul in a case filed with Santhia Police Station in Pabna. He was arrested on the basis of that warrant.
 
Santhia Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Anisur Rahman said Asadul was arrested on Wednesday night with the assistance of Gulshan Police.
 
“He is a notorious fraudster. An arrest warrant was pending against him at the police station. Following his arrest, he has been brought to Pabna and will subsequently be produced before the court,” the OC said.