Elderly Man Defrauded in Celebrity Marriage Scam

In a bizarre and cautionary tale of deception from Rajshahi’s Tanore Upazila, a 75-year-old widower has reportedly been swindled out of nearly 700,000 BDT. The victim, a local elder, was allegedly led to believe that a prominent film actress was eager to marry him—a fantasy orchestrated by a self-styled professional matchmaker.

The Anatomy of the Deception

The victim, identified as Haji Dost Mohammad, a resident of Bilshahar village under Talanda Union, filed a formal written complaint with the Tanore Police Station on Friday, 23 January 2026. The accused, Abdul Latif (better known locally as Bhola), aged 55, is a resident of the Dhantair neighbourhood.

According to the complaint, Bhola approached the elderly Haji approximately eight months ago with an extraordinary proposition. He claimed to have personal connections within the Bangladeshi film industry and suggested that a famous "heroine" was looking for a respectable, mature husband. Enticed by the prospect of a high-profile union, the unsuspecting septuagenarian began a series of payments to "facilitate" the marriage.

Financial Breakdown of the Fraud

A Family in Crisis

The financial toll on Dost Mohammad has been devastating. Over the course of eight months, Bhola allegedly extracted a total of 696,295 BDT through various ruses, including "gift expenses," "production house fees," and "legal documentation costs." These funds were transferred both in cash and through numerous digital mobile banking accounts.

"He promised me a life with a film star and took nearly seven lakh Taka using different excuses," a distraught Dost Mohammad shared with local reporters. "Now, eight months have passed with no marriage in sight. My family has discovered the loss, and I am essentially destitute. I have no choice but to seek the intervention of the law to recover my life savings."

Denials and Legal Proceedings

When confronted with the allegations, the accused matchmaker, Abdul Latif Bhola, vehemently denied any wrongdoing. He claimed that the accusations were a fabricated attempt to tarnish his reputation and "frame" him for a crime he did not commit.

However, the local community in Tanore is reportedly incensed, with many neighbours demanding Bhola's immediate arrest and exemplary punishment for preying on a vulnerable senior citizen.

The Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Tanore Police Station, Mohammad Shahiduzzaman, stated that while he had not yet personally reviewed the full details of the written complaint, the police would take rigorous action. "If a formal allegation of fraud has been lodged, we will initiate a thorough investigation. Justice will be served based on the evidence found," the OC confirmed.