Four held for ‘spreading rumour’
Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) claimed to have arrested four persons in the last two days for allegedly spreading rumour on social media over the construction of Padma Bridge.
The arrestees are Md Arman Hosen, 22, of Chattogram; Hayatunnabi, 32, of Cumilla; Shahidul Islam, 25, of Narail; and Md Faruk, 50, of Moulvibazar.
The four were arrested from different districts at different times and handed over to police, Mizanur Rahman Bhuiyan, senior assistant director of Rab’s legal and media wing, told The Daily Star. Separate cases were filed against them, the Rab official added.
The arrests were made after the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges on July 9, in a notice, urged people not to pay heed to the rumour about the need for a human sacrifice for the Padma Bridge project.
The ministry also said it has noticed that propaganda is being spread by a certain group on social media. “Spreading such rumour is a criminal offence,” it said.
Meanwhile, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader on Thursday said stern action would be taken against those who are spreading such rumours.
He indirectly linked the opposition with the rumour. “The opposition has failed in election and in movement. Now, rumour is their capital,” he said.
He said a bizarre propaganda is being spread on social media that human sacrifices are required for Padma Bridge. The Bridges Division has already talked to different intelligence agencies and Rab, to find out who are spreading the rumour, he added.
The prime minister also asked the authorities concerned to take action against them, he said.
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