Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s City-Cyber Crime Investigation Division has arrested a man named Karkan Rana over allegations that he opened fake Facebook accounts using the names and photographs of members of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s family, Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon, and Personal Assistant-2 Abdur Rahman Sani. Police said the arrest followed an operation by the division’s E-Fraud Investigation Team on Sunday afternoon.

According to police, the alleged fake accounts were used to spread propaganda and false, fabricated information intended to damage the reputations of the people concerned. Police also said Rana had created multiple accounts and pages in the names of several other people.

Investigators analysed information linked to the fake accounts after receiving a complaint against Rana. Police seized a mobile phone and other evidence during the operation. A case has been filed at Banani police station under the Cyber Security Act, and police have applied to the court for seven days of remand to question him.