Yesterday, the Daily Ittefaq published two important reports concerning “fake professionals.”
Firstly, police arrested a man impersonating a military major while preparing for a robbery near the Mograkul Graveyard in Tarabo Municipality under Rupganj Upazila of Narayanganj district.
He is accused of being involved in robbery, mugging, and various other crimes using the fake identity of a major. A case has already been filed against him.
In another incident in Gopalganj, a man was arrested by a joint force for fraud and marrying a teenage girl under the false identity of a military officer. Posing as a warrant officer of the Bangladesh Army, he allegedly developed a romantic relationship with the girl through Facebook.
Unfortunately, such incidents are not rare in Bangladesh. There is no shortage of cases where individuals use fake professional identities to engage in criminal activities — a deeply concerning trend that contributes to social disorder and public insecurity.
But what does "fake" really mean? According to the dictionary, the term refers to something false, forged, counterfeit, or fabricated — in essence, something that is not genuine or created with the intent to deceive.
When a person assumes an identity that is not their own or claims to hold a position or profession for which they have no qualifications or credentials, that person is considered “fake.”
In the incidents mentioned, the accused individuals falsely presented themselves as a military major and a warrant officer, respectively — identities they had no right to claim.
In the case of professionals, claiming a false identity means representing oneself as a member of a profession without having the required qualifications, training, or license. Such actions not only cause confusion and chaos but also severely undermine public trust.
In Bangladesh, we frequently encounter alarming reports of individuals impersonating professionals — be it army personnel, doctors, journalists, lawyers, magistrates, police officers, detectives, teachers, engineers, or even spiritual figures and astrologers.
This trend isn’t unique to Bangladesh; similar incidents occur in both developed and developing countries. However, in Bangladesh, the frequency of such cases is notably higher due to several reasons.
First, there is a widespread obsession with wealth and social status, prompting many to take unethical shortcuts. Second, weak enforcement of laws and the lack of exemplary punishment for such offenders embolden fraudsters. T
hird, the widespread availability of digital platforms and lack of proper verification on social media make it easier for these imposters to exploit unsuspecting individuals. Lastly, public ignorance and the tendency to trust others too easily contribute significantly to their success. Many people fall victim simply because they fail to verify someone’s identity properly.
To combat this growing menace, it is imperative that we ensure proper enforcement of laws, raise public awareness, and work toward building a more educated and conscious society.
Every citizen should verify the identity of unfamiliar individuals and report any suspicion to the appropriate authorities. In this regard, we must also rely on the support of law enforcement agencies and administrative bodies.
We believe that each profession should have a designated authority responsible for determining eligibility and issuing unique identification numbers.
Employers and institutions must also make it mandatory for their staff to carry ID cards with verifiable numbers. Although some organizations already follow this practice, many still do not, making it easier for imposters to deceive others. Therefore, collective awareness and vigilance are essential in tackling this issue.