The anti-crime elite force Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) nabbed a man, who impersonated a distant relative of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
The arrested man was also engaged in fraudulent activities.
The suspect was identified as Abu Hanif alias Tushar alias Hanif Mia.
RAB's law and media wing director Commander Khandaker Al Moin confirmed it on Wednesday.
Hanif embarked on an ambitious campaign by luring victims with the promise of securing Awami League nominations in the upcoming national polls.
He demanded exorbitant sums, ranging from Tk 2-3 billion, from numerous people, the RAB official said.
Hanif also duped many by making false promises of job appointments, promotions, and government positions, siphoning off substantial amounts of money in the process.
The 39-year-old Hanif had manipulated his Facebook account by uploading doctored images featuring various government ministers and high-ranking officials, as well as the prime minister herself, to portray himself as a prominent figure.
RAB said that Hanif was apprehended in the capital's Bashundhara residential area. During the arrest, a pistol, ammunition, and a car were seized, along with various videos and edited images.
Authorities also revealed that Hanif had saved multiple phone numbers under the names of the prime minister's family members. He and his cohorts would engage in fake correspondence on social media apps while posing as members of the prime minister's inner circle.
He also edited himself into photographs with the prime minister's family members to bolster his credibility.
Over time, Hanif participated in political events and took photographs with influential individuals, using these images to deceive others.
During the primary interrogation, Hanif admitted to demanding substantial sums of money from individuals by promising them nominations for various parliamentary constituencies in the upcoming elections.
He would first compile a list of potential nominees and then target those with lower chances of securing nominations. Afterwards, he would establish contact and request large sums.
Hanif frequently attended meetings at luxury hotels, arriving in expensive vehicles.
During these meetings, he would speak over the phone with his associates, who pretended to be members of the prime minister's family.
RAB officials claimed that Hanif had admitted to misappropriating more than Tk 50 million from over 30 people on the pretext of giving them jobs.
