Youth Arrested for Spreading Fake News on Facebook in Noakhali
The Senbagh Police in Noakhali have arrested a youth named Saiful Islam (31) for spreading false and misleading news on social media. Saiful, a member of the banned terrorist organization Chhatra League’s Chhatarpaiya unit in Noakhali district, was apprehended based on information from the Cyber Crime Unit of the Rajshahi Metropolitan Police (RMP).
The arrest was confirmed by RMP Additional Deputy Commissioner (Media) Sabina Yasmin on Friday, November 1. Saiful, son of Md. Helal Uddin, hails from Purba Chhatarpaiya village in Senbagh Thana of Noakhali district.
According to Sabina Yasmin, on August 29, several Facebook pages circulated a video titled “Midnight Uproar at Rajshahi University” in support of the banned organization Bangladesh Chhatra League. The video allegedly contained false information against the current government, causing fear and tension among students and the general public nationwide, raising concerns over the country’s sovereignty and law-and-order situation. This came to the attention of Rajshahi Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mohammad Abu Sufiyan, who directed the Cyber Crime Unit to investigate the matter.
The Cyber Crime Unit of RMP examined the video, determining that although the footage depicted Rajshahi University, it was not recent. The video had been edited with a newly added voiceover and was traced back to the Senbagh area of Noakhali district. Armed with this information, the RMP provided details to the Senbagh Thana Police.
Acting on this intelligence, a police team from Senbagh conducted an operation on October 31 at around 10:30 PM, arresting Saiful Islam from the Gabtoli area. During questioning, Saiful admitted to running several Facebook pages, using them to deliberately spread fake news with the intent to damage the reputation of the state and the government. A case has been filed against him under the Cyber Security Act at Senbagh Thana, and he has been remanded to jail following a court appearance today.
