False Press Credentials Used in Bangladesh School Extortion Case

A court in Bangladesh has sentenced two men to prison after finding them guilty of posing as journalists in an extortion scheme targeting a government primary school, a case that has renewed concerns over the misuse of media identities for criminal activities and the reputational damage caused to legitimate journalism. The ruling was delivered in Brahmanbaria, where the court imposed five-year prison sentences on the two individuals following a lengthy legal process linked to events that began in 2021.

According to court findings, the men visited Sharifpur Purba Government Primary School in Ashuganj while presenting themselves as journalists. Prosecutors stated that the pair demanded access to financial documents from the school administration and allegedly threatened to publish damaging reports against teachers if money was not paid. Investigators said the suspects attempted to extort approximately Tk 20,000 from the institution during the incident.

School officials and residents reportedly intervened after becoming suspicious of the men’s conduct. One of the accused was detained at the scene, while the second individual initially escaped on a motorcycle before later being included in the criminal case. Police became involved after local authorities were informed, and a formal complaint was filed by the school’s head teacher on the same day as the alleged extortion attempt.

During the trial, witness testimony and investigative findings were presented before the Additional District and Sessions Judge’s Court, which ultimately concluded that the two men had falsely used journalist identities to intimidate educational institutions and obtain money unlawfully. Lawyers involved in the case claimed the convicted individuals had allegedly engaged in similar activities against schools and other organizations in the region over an extended period.

Representatives from the local press community also distanced professional journalists from the convicted men, stating that they were not affiliated with recognized media organizations and instead relied on unauthorized press cards and social media platforms to create false credibility. Media observers warned that such incidents risk undermining public trust in journalism by blurring the distinction between legitimate reporting and criminal impersonation.

Reference –

https://www.thedailystar.net/news/crime-justice/news/two-men-jailed-posing-journalists-extort-school-4172361