A Dhaka court on Wednesday sent Hafizur Rahman Shafiq, who identifies himself as a journalist, to jail in a case filed under the Cyber Security Act with Shahbagh Police Station.
Dhaka Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Awlad Hossain Mohammad Junaid passed the order after hearing arguments from both sides.
Police arrested 38-year-old Shafiq from an area near Holy Family Hospital in the capital’s Moghbazar on Tuesday night. According to the case statement, the case was filed by Andam Hossain, 27, a firefighter with the Bangladesh Fire Service and Civil Defence.
The other accused in the case include Md Fazlul Huq, 35, Md Liton Mia, 47, and several unidentified individuals.
The plaintiff alleged that Shafiq, while introducing himself as a journalist, had been demanding money from him for some time. He further alleged that Shafiq threatened to create and circulate false and misleading videos on social media if his demands were not met.
The case statement said a video was later posted on Shafiq’s Facebook page, after which further demands for money were made. The plaintiff also accused the other named suspects of sharing the video from their personal accounts and posting indecent comments.
It was further alleged that the accused threatened to use artificial intelligence technology to create and circulate more fake videos, damaging the plaintiff’s personal reputation and the image of the Bangladesh Fire Service and Civil Defence.
In a petition seeking custody, the IO said the accused admitted during preliminary interrogation that he was involved in the incident with the help of his associates.
The investigating officer also expressed concerns that Shafiq could go into hiding if granted bail.
