Multiple fake Facebook IDs and pages allegedly operated using the name and photographs of BNP Acting Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi have been used to circulate various political statements, comments, photographs and videos, prompting a general diary (GD) to be filed with a police station against the accounts.
Rizvi’s personal assistant Mashiur Rahman disclosed the information in a Facebook post on Friday afternoon.
Merit-based system must be established, not mobocracy: Rizvi
He had filed the GD with Dhanmondi Police Station in the capital on Thursday evening.
According to the GD, Ruhul Kabir Rizvi does not personally operate any Facebook ID, profile or page.
Therefore, any post, comment, photograph, video or political statement published from any Facebook account operated in his name should not be considered his personal or authorised statement, it said.
The GD said several Facebook IDs, profiles and pages have recently come to notice that are being operated using Rizvi’s name, photographs, identity and political designation.
One of the accounts was also found to have a blue verification mark, according to the GD.
This could create confusion among members of the public, leading them to mistakenly believe that the account is Rizvi’s genuine and authorised Facebook account, it said.
Various statements, political opinions, photographs, videos, news reports and other content are being circulated using these fake accounts in Rizvi’s name, according to the GD.
It also expressed concern that the platforms could be used in the future to spread misleading information.
The GD further said that if fake statements or political propaganda are circulated using Rizvi’s identity, it could damage his personal reputation and political image.
At the same time, such activities could create confusion among the public and contribute to the spread of misinformation, it said.
Describing the activities as "misuse" of Rizvi’s name and identity, the GD requested that the matter be investigated seriously.
The issue of fake Facebook IDs and profiles being operated in Rizvi’s name is not new.
He had informed law enforcement agencies about the matter previously as well. Multiple GDs were also filed with Paltan Police Station over the issue on earlier occasions.