SYLHET, Spe 01 (V7N) — A suspected honey-trap ring has reportedly become increasingly active in Golapganj of Sylhet, with allegations that members lure men into relationships, secretly record compromising images and later blackmail them for money.
According to local sources, the alleged network has expanded its activities across Golapganj municipal areas and surrounding villages in recent days. The suspects allegedly use social media and mobile phone contacts to approach young and middle-aged men, gain their confidence and lure them to selected locations.
The victims are allegedly secretly photographed or recorded in compromising situations and subsequently threatened with the release of the material on social media unless they pay money. Those who refuse or protest allegedly face threats, physical attacks and the threat of being implicated in criminal cases.
Local allegations have also linked several individuals to the suspected network. One of the names mentioned is Khaled Ahmed, a resident of Barakot village in Golapganj. However, the allegations against him have not been independently verified.
Meanwhile, police have arrested four people—two women and two men—in connection with a suspected honey-trap and blackmailing case in Sylhet city and rescued an alleged victim.
Kotwali Model Police Station conducted the operation at around 4am on Saturday, April 11, after locating the victim through information technology. Police also seized a private car, a CNG-powered auto-rickshaw and five mobile phones from the arrested individuals.
The arrested suspects were identified as Tanzila Akter alias Rabeya Begum Tanhā, 27, daughter of Azizul Haque alias Babul Mia and Fairun Nessa of Kanaighat; Jesmin Akter, 22, daughter of Jahangir Alam and Anwara Begum of Mirabazar in Sylhet city; Md Zayed Ahmed, 35, son of Toffazzal Ali and Maleka Begum of Ganganagar in Moglabazar; and Abdul Jalil, 30, son of Alal Uddin and Nasima Begum of Mohammadpur in Gowainghat.
Police said that on Thursday, April 9, members of the alleged ring picked up victim Mahmudul Hasan Rifat, 25, and his friend Mahfuz Ali, 25, in a CNG-powered auto-rickshaw from the Mendibagh area of Sylhet city.
They were allegedly taken to a room on the fifth floor of a building in the Jatrapur area, where they were held against their will.
Police said the suspects allegedly threatened them with sharp weapons and subjected them to physical abuse, including electric shocks. They allegedly forced the victims to remove their clothes and recorded videos before demanding Tk 10 lakh, threatening to publish the footage on social media.
According to police, Jesmin and Tanhā were allegedly used by the group from the initial stage of the operation to establish contact with the targeted victims.
Later, Rifat reportedly collected Tk 90,000 from his relatives and handed it over to the suspects. His family members subsequently became suspicious and contacted Kotwali Model Police Station.
Police then launched an operation, arrested the four suspects and rescued the victims.
A case, No. 19, dated April 11, 2026, was filed with Kotwali Model Police Station under the Pornography Control Act. The arrested suspects were subsequently produced before a court, said Metropolitan Police Additional Deputy Commissioner (Media) Md Manzurul Alam.
The allegations concerning the broader network and the involvement of other individuals remain under investigation.
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