Man held in Rajshahi over 'defamatory posts' about PM's adviser's wife

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has arrested a man in Rajshahi for allegedly sharing defamatory posts on social media about the wife of Prime Minister's Defence Adviser Brigadier General (retd) A.K.M. Shamsul Islam. The arrested individual is Palash Chowdhury (48), a resident of Malopara area in Rajshahi city.

RAB-5 said he was arrested in a raid at a rented house in the Ranibazar area of the city early Friday. He was taken into custody as an accused in the case based on information gathered during the investigation.

According to RAB, on July 2, the Prime Minister's Defence Adviser's Personal Officer Nur Mohammad filed a case under the Cyber Security Act at Gulshan Police Station in the capital. The case named four individuals and 10 to 12 unidentified others as accused.

The case statement alleged that false, obscene and defamatory content about the defence adviser's wife was circulated through various Facebook IDs, groups, pages and Telegram channels. These posts were later shared across multiple platforms, harming the victim's social dignity and subjecting her to mental harassment and blackmail.

Earlier, Gulshan Police had arrested four people in the same case. Palash Chowdhury was arrested as part of the ongoing investigation.

RAB claimed that during preliminary interrogation, Palash Chowdhury admitted his involvement in the incident. The process of handing him over to Gulshan Police Station for further legal action is underway.