When Md Sonaruddin of Rajshahi’s Godagari was finally released after spending 17 years behind bars, he returned home with little of his family’s savings left.
Sentenced to death in a murder case, he was acquitted by the Supreme Court 14 years later after a long legal battle that drained his family financially. Fraudsters also exploited their desperation.
“My parents died after I went to jail. Later, I inherited three bighas of land, but that money was spent on lawyers. I also lost a lot of money to fraudsters,” Sonaruddin told TIMES.
He spent eight years at Rajshahi Central Jail and the rest at Dhaka Central Jail at Keraniganj, where unknown callers repeatedly demanded money from his family by promising bail, acquittal, or legal assistance.
“One person called and said he represented a barrister and could get my husband released,” Sonaruddin said, quoting his wife. “He asked for Tk50,000 upfront. My wife paid, but he disappeared with the money.”
Ismail Hossain, another accused in the same case who was later released, faced a similar ordeal. His relatives were also cheated while trying to finance his legal battle. Like Sonaruddin’s family, they sold land to cover legal expenses. He now lives in severe financial hardship.
Such incidents are becoming increasingly common among prisoners’ families. Fraudsters demand money by claiming that an inmate is in danger, has fallen ill, is being sent on remand, will be transferred to another prison, or can receive better facilities inside jail in exchange for payment.
Several prisoners’ relatives and former inmates told TIMES that they had faced such fraud attempts.
Relatives of inmates at Kashimpur-1 and Kashimpur-2 prisons alleged that fraudsters often pose as police officers, prison officials, or court employees. Using accurate details about prisoners, they create panic and pressure families to send money immediately.
Acting Inspector General of Prisons Colonel Mostafa Kamal acknowledged that such incidents occur.
“Some isolated incidents take place. Criminal groups collect prisoners’ information in different ways and use it for fraud,” he told TIMES.
He said fraudsters have also impersonated the IG (Prisons) and threatened prison staff by posing as law enforcement officials.
The prison authorities have launched an awareness campaign, including a video, to alert prisoners’ families about such scams.
Victims alleged that some people linked to prisons may be involved, as they have access to prisoners’ personal information. In many cases, inmates provide relatives’ phone numbers for communication, which are later misused.
Fraudsters often call at night or early morning, especially between 7am and 8am, when families have little chance to verify information. Many send money through mobile financial services in panic but later realise they have been deceived.
Despite financial losses, many victims avoid filing complaints fearing further trouble.
Munsoor Ahmed of Dharmarai, Dhaka, said a relative detained at Kashimpur-2 Prison was targeted by fraudsters.
“One morning around 7am, I received a call saying my relative had fought inside the jail and would be punished. They threatened that his hands and legs could be broken unless we paid money,” he said.
The caller demanded Tk30,000, later reducing it to Tk10,000 after negotiations. Munsoor later found the entire story was fabricated.
Sujon Dash of Chattogram’s Double Mooring was also targeted. A caller claiming to be a prison official said his brother-in-law Sumon Dash, an inmate at Chattogram Central Jail, was on a list of prisoners to be released ahead of the national election and demanded Tk50,000.
Sujon sent Tk35,000 and Tk15,300 to two mobile banking numbers before discovering it was a scam.
Jakir Hossain of Savar’s Yearpur, detained at Kashimpur-2 Prison in several murder cases filed during the 2024 mass uprising, was also targeted. His relatives received calls claiming he had been taken on remand by Rab-1 and demanding Tk50,000 to prevent torture. The family refused after confirming there was no court order for remand.
Lieutenant Colonel Md Neyamul Halim Khan, commander of Rab-1, told TIMES that the force had not taken anyone from prison on remand in the previous five months.
Relatives of Robin Ahmed, detained at Dhaka Central Jail, lost Tk5,000 after receiving a false call claiming he was ill. Amir Hossain of Bagmara, Rajshahi, said his family sent Tk10,000 after being told his younger brother needed urgent hospital treatment, only to later discover the claim was false.
In Narayanganj, Monir Mia was cheated of Tk30,000 after a caller promised early bail for his nephew Abir, who was detained in a land dispute case.
Relatives of a murder accused at Manikganj Prison were also cheated of Tk10,000 with promises of cancelling remand. Families of Sajol Ahmed in Jashore and Faisal Mahmud in Khulna were similarly targeted.
Omar Faruk, professor at the Department of Criminology and Police Science at Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University, said fraudsters exploit prisoners’ families’ desperation.
“Fraud rings are highly organised. If prison authorities provide families with easily accessible official contact numbers, such fraud can be reduced to some extent,” he told TIMES.
