In Fatulla, Narayanganj, a husband and wife have been arrested for allegedly printing and selling counterfeit “family cards” under the guise of promises made in the manifesto of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chairman, Tarique Rahman. The arrests were confirmed on Monday evening (16 February) by Narayanganj Sadar Upazila Executive Officer (UNO) S M Faiz Uddin Ahmed.
The UNO stated that, following preliminary verification of the complaints, the couple was taken into custody. Legal proceedings against them are now underway. Local residents have been urged to exercise caution and avoid making payments for such cards without proper verification.
Details of the Arrested
The arrested couple have been identified as:
| Name | Alias | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| Rasel | Zilani | Husband |
| Hasina | — | Wife |
According to victims, the fraudulent activity began the day after the national parliamentary elections. Rasel and Hasina started circulating the fake cards in the Kasipur Union areas of Narsingpur, Bakultola, Char Kasipur, and Madhya Narsingpur. Presenting themselves as BNP workers and operating under the name “Jisan Traders”, the couple sold the cards to unsuspecting women at a nominal price of BDT 50 per card.
The pair claimed that the cards would allow holders to purchase essential items—including rice, lentils, oil, and meat—worth BDT 1,285 per month. The scheme targeted approximately 300 families, capitalising on the approach of the holy month of Ramadan.
However, confusion and anger ensued when the first installment of goods, scheduled for delivery on Monday morning, did not arrive. Victims quickly realised they had been deceived. Subsequently, a group of women confronted the accused at their residence, leading to a protest outside their home.
Local residents noted that most of the card buyers were women with limited formal education, making them vulnerable to such fraudulent schemes.
One of the victims, Jorina Khatun, said, “We were told that the cards were being issued officially by the company. We waited from 10 a.m., but the goods never arrived. When we tried calling them, they didn’t answer.”
Residents also claimed that Rasel, known locally as Zilani, is associated with a prominent BNP leader in the metropolitan area.
Responding to the incident, Shahidul Islam Titu, president of Fatulla Thana BNP, stated, “I do not know anyone named Rasel or Zilani. He is not a member of our party. Whoever is selling these family cards is clearly a fraudster. He must be handed over to the law. We will not allow the party’s reputation to be tarnished.”