A leaked audio recording in which a voice allegedly linked to Faruk Hossain, president of the Lakshmipur district unit of the Youth Rights Council, is heard demanding Tk500,000 has led to his expulsion from the organisation.
The recording, which has circulated widely on social media, includes a voice saying, “Five, it has to be five; this is Vice-President Nur’s instruction.” The reference appears to be to Nurul Haque Nur, president of the Gono Odhikar Parishad.
In the recording, the speaker addresses another person as ‘father’ while discussing arrangements for someone seeking to travel abroad for work. The conversation reportedly refers to submitting a passport, arranging a work permit and visa, obtaining police clearance and completing procedures related to the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET).
The speaker is also heard saying that Tk500,000 would initially be required to cover the expenses and that the remaining amount could be paid one or two months later. The request for money is repeated several times during the recording.
However, the identity of the person on the other end of the conversation has not been established. The complete recording, its authenticity and whether it has been edited or manipulated using artificial intelligence could not be independently verified.
The audio quickly generated discussion on social media. Some users alleged that Hossain had been regularly collecting money from people by promising to arrange overseas employment. No reliable evidence, however, has emerged to substantiate those broader allegations.
Following the circulation of the recording, Hossain was expelled from the Lakshmipur district unit of the Youth Rights Council. Naim Hossain Shanto, the organisation’s office secretary, announced the decision in a statement issued on the organisation’s letterhead on Monday afternoon.
Hossain has denied the allegations and claimed that he is the target of a conspiracy because of his criticism of alleged corruption in Lakshmipur. He also maintained that the viral audio was generated using artificial intelligence.
According to Hossain, a man named Sakib from his area had asked him to arrange his passport. He said he had told Sakib that the cost would be Tk5,000. Hossain claimed that the reference to Tk5,000 had subsequently been distorted and presented as Tk500,000.
“I believe the five thousand taka was turned into five lakh taka,” Hossain said, adding that a group was conspiring against him because he had spoken out about corruption in Lakshmipur.
Sakib also disputed the claim that Tk500,000 had been demanded. He said Hossain had asked him for Tk5,000 and that there had been no discussion about Tk500,000. He also questioned the recording, saying that there was no audible voice from the other side of the conversation.
Muntazul Islam, central general secretary of the Youth Rights Council, told the media at around 11pm that the organisation had listened to the audio. He said an initial verification had found grounds for concern and, after discussions with senior officials, the organisation decided to expel Hossain.
The controversy also prompted a response from Nurul Haque Nur, president of the Gono Odhikar Parishad and state minister for expatriates’ welfare. In a Facebook post, Nur said there would be no scope for anyone to escape accountability by using his name for financial gain.
Nur said the accused had already been expelled from the organisation and that the superintendent of police in Lakshmipur had been asked to take legal action.
The case now centres on two separate questions: whether the audio genuinely represents a conversation involving Hossain and whether the demand for Tk500,000 was actually made. While the organisation says its initial assessment led to disciplinary action, the competing claims made by Hossain and Sakib mean that the recording’s authenticity and context remain matters for further technical and legal verification.
