Staff Reporter:

A group with malicious intentions has created a fake Facebook profile using the personal information and photo of journalist Mahady Hassen Riead. A General Diary (GD) has been filed regarding the matter at Debidwar Police Station. The GD number is 133, dated 28/10/2024.

Mahady Hassen Riead serves as the Digital Section Head for the daily Dinkal newspaper and is also the Editor and Publisher of Bhorer Janala. Additionally, he holds roles as the Secretary of the Central Public Relations Sub-Committee for the Bangladesh Journalist Community (BJC), Information and Legal Secretary for the Debidwar Upazila Press Club, Member Secretary of the Bangladesh Press Club Debidwar Upazila Branch, and Joint General Secretary of the Bangladesh Journalists Association, Debidwar Upazila Branch.

According to the GD, Mahady Hassen Riead learned through his acquaintances that unknown individuals had duplicated his personal profile picture and details to create an identical fake profile. Concerned about potential legal complications from future misuse, he requested Debidwar Police to take necessary action and clarify that he holds no responsibility for any criminal posts made from accounts other than his verified profile.

Mahady Hassen Riead confirmed he has only one official Facebook account. He urged everyone to refrain from sharing or receiving information from any profiles other than his own official account, “Md. Mahady Hassen Riead,” accessible at https://www.facebook.com/mhriead9.

The creation of this fake profile has sparked outrage within the journalism community nationwide. Journalists from various districts and sub-districts have condemned the act and demanded that the authorities identify and severely punish the individual behind the fake account.

Debidwar Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md. Khaled Saifullah confirmed that Mahady Hassen Riead has filed a General Diary. “We will investigate the matter and take necessary action,” he said.