Suspects used fake Facebook page to extort money from students and parents

TDS Desk:

The Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has arrested four people on charges of swindling money by spreading rumours of SSC-2026 question paper leaks through a fake Facebook page.

The arrests were made during multiple drives in Dhaka’s Ashulia, as well as in Bogura, Dinajpur, and Sirajganj.

The arrestees are Md Sifat Ahmed Sajib, 22; Md Salman, 22; Md Mesbaul Alam Mahin, 19; and Md Mohiduzzaman Munna, 19.

Police said the gang had been defrauding SSC candidates and their parents through a Facebook page named “SSC-2026 Question Paper Leak Group”.

Briefing reporters at the DMP Media Centre on Minto Road today, CTTC Joint Commissioner Munshi Shahabuddin said their online division discovered the Facebook page during regular social media monitoring on April 20.

Based on the information gathered, a CTTC team first arrested Sajib from Savar’s Ashulia that night. Following his confession, Salman and Mahin were arrested in Bogura’s Dhunat and Dinajpur’s Nawabganj on April 23. Finally, Munna was apprehended from Sirajganj’s Tarash on April 24.

The joint commissioner mentioned that numerous pieces of evidence regarding the scam were found on the seized mobile phones.

“The gang extorted money by promising to provide question papers. However, during interrogation, it was revealed that the questions they supplied had no similarity to the original ones,” he said.

“This gang was active with the intention of questioning a transparent and fair examination system and creating unrest amongst parents and students. They resorted to this deception purely for unethical financial gain,” the CTTC official added.

A case has been filed in this regard with Ramna Model Police Station. The arrestees have been placed on remand, and efforts are underway to gather details about other members involved in the syndicate, he added.