A Dhaka court has placed Md Shafik Nazrul on a four-day remand in connection with a fraud case alleging that he misappropriated money by promising candidates guaranteed success in the Bangladesh Bar Council examination through a Facebook page called “Law Doctor”.
The order was issued on Tuesday by Metropolitan Magistrate Ariful Islam. The matter was confirmed by public prosecutor Harun Or Rashid.
Earlier, investigating officer Sub-Inspector Abdullah Al Mamun of Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station produced the accused before the court and sought a seven-day remand. According to the remand application, the suspect had allegedly been running a long-standing scheme targeting Bar Council examinees through eye-catching advertisements that promised certain success in the examination. Investigators argued that custodial interrogation was necessary to uncover details of financial transactions and identify other members of the alleged fraud network.
During the hearing, the prosecution maintained that the accused had attempted to exploit candidates’ anxieties surrounding the Bar Council examination and had used misleading promotional campaigns to attract victims. Investigators also claimed that a broader network may have been involved in the operation, making further questioning essential.
Defence lawyers, however, opposed the remand request and argued that their client was innocent. They told the court that Nazrul merely provided examination suggestions and guidance to candidates before the test. According to the defence, he had no involvement in any fraudulent activity or unlawful financial dealings.
Addressing the court with permission, Shafik Nazrul denied all allegations. He insisted that no one could prove he had taken money in exchange for examination questions or guaranteed results. He claimed that he had simply shared examination suggestions and that all 100 of his suggested questions had appeared in the examination. Describing himself as an expert, he argued that offering guidance to candidates was not a criminal offence and characterised the case as false and politically motivated.
Court documents state that Nazrul allegedly promoted advertisements through the “Law Doctor” page claiming that candidates could secure a guaranteed pass by studying only 100 multiple-choice questions. Investigators allege that he sought to gain the trust of prospective candidates by portraying himself as someone with influential connections and by offering assurances that they would pass the examination.
The case originated from a complaint filed by one examinee, who alleged that Nazrul demanded Tk 800,000 in exchange for ensuring success in the Bar Council examination. According to the complaint, the victim paid Tk 405,000 in instalments. After failing the Bar Council examination held on 12 June, the complainant allegedly realised that he had been deceived and subsequently filed a case with Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station.
The remand application further states that investigators are attempting to recover the allegedly misappropriated funds and examine banking and mobile financial service transactions linked to the case. Authorities are also seeking to identify additional victims and determine whether other individuals participated in the operation.
Police have indicated that similar allegations have been received from several other individuals who claim they were persuaded to hand over money under comparable promises. Those allegations are now being examined as part of the ongoing investigation.
In a separate development on the same day, the court also showed Shafik Nazrul arrested in another case filed by Md Al Emran, Additional Director of the Bangladesh Bar Council. That case alleges that candidates were misled through the “Law Doctor” page while an organisation known as “Odommo Coaching Centre” was being operated, raising further questions about the nature and scope of the activities under investigation.
The cases have drawn attention within the legal community, where concerns have long existed regarding the exploitation of aspiring lawyers through promises of examination success. Investigators say their inquiry remains ongoing and that additional evidence may emerge as the probe progresses.
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