RAB busts fake army job racket; 6 held

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB)-4 has detained six members of a fraud ring accused of impersonating army officers and deceiving job seekers with fake employment offers in various government agencies, including the armed forces.

The arrests were made on Monday night during raids in different areas of Dhaka and Savar.

The detainees are Sohel Rana alias Milon, Taiyob alias Mostak, Sajib Munshi, Shamim Ahmed, Maulad Ali Khan, and Sohel Rana alias Jinnah.

RAB recovered a private car, seven mobile phones, two fake appointment letters, and Tk 95,200 in cash. A victim, who had been promised a job in the army, was also rescued during the operation.

At a press briefing held at the RAB-4 office in Mirpur on Tuesday, Company Commander Shahabuddin Kabir said the arrests followed a complaint filed by a man named Sohel Rana, who claimed he had been conned by the group.

According to the complaint, the victim's younger brother failed to pass the preliminary selection for recruitment at the Safipur Ansar Battalion Academy on September 14. Shortly afterward, the victim was contacted by an unknown caller who claimed the rejection was due to a physical issue. When asked for identification, the caller introduced himself as “Major Sohel” and arranged to meet in person.

The meeting took place at a hotel in Dhaka’s Shah Ali area, where the man introduced himself as a major in the army and his associate as a colonel. They claimed they had connections with high-ranking officials and could secure a sepoy position in the Ansar Battalion for Tk 12 lakh.

The victim agreed and transferred Tk 4 lakh via a bank account on September 15. After receiving the money, the suspects handed over a fake appointment letter. They later demanded and received another Tk 1 lakh through mobile financial services, Bkash and Nagad.

The victim returned home with the letter and, after comparing it with a genuine appointment letter from another recruit in his village, noticed multiple discrepancies. Upon further inquiry, he discovered the document was fake and contacted RAB.

RAB officials said the fraud ring has been active for some time, targeting vulnerable job seekers and exploiting their desperation. Legal proceedings are underway, and further investigations are being conducted to identify additional victims and accomplices.