‘Man behind viral rumour’ held in Ctg

Police in Chattogram yesterday arrested a physician, for allegedly spreading rumour about coronavirus through an audio clip circulated via Facebook messenger.

The arrest was revealed at a press conference at the office of Deputy Commissioner (north) of CMP, reports our staff correspondent.

The arrestee, Iftekhar Mohammed Adnan -- who was working at a private hospital in the port city -- was arrested from a restaurant at Probortok intersection, said Bijoy Bosak, deputy commissioner of CMP.

Bosak said Adnan admitted his role behind the audio that went viral on social media.

"We will interrogate him further to find what the purpose of the audio was, and who else are involved in the plot," he added.

The audio, which appeared to be a phone conversation and was allegedly recorded by Adnan, said coronavirus cases were on the rise in Chattogram, urging the man on the other side to be cautious and to pray.

1 HELD IN MANIKGANJ

A youth arrested for spreading rumour on coronavirus through Facebook gave confessional statement before a Manikganj court yesterday, reports our correspondent.

Md Hafizur Rahman, Additional Superintendent of Police in Manikganj, said Saddam Hossein Ovi (25) made a post from his personal Facebook ID on Friday, where he wrote that one person had died in the district of coronavirus, and three others were infected.                                "It is a rumour; there is no coronavirus-affected patient in the district," the ASP said.

"After the post came to our notice, he was arrested from Bachamara Bazar on Friday evening," he said.

He was sued under the Digital Security Act, the police official added.