Who is Noman, ex-RAB officer linked to the scam?

Md Noman Siddique, a key suspect in the PSC question paper leak, is the second accused in the case filed by CID in this regard. After the arrest of 17 people for the scam, his name also surfaced in the media, but who actually is Noman?

To uncover more, our correspondent visited his family home in Lakshmipur, where locals and family members shared insights into his life.

Noman hails from Char Algi village, situated on the banks of the Meghna River in the district's Ramgati.

According to his family members, he joined the army in 1998 and later served in the RAB. In 2017, he voluntarily retired from the army, and shortly after, his wife also left her job in the education sector. The couple then reportedly started a garment business.

Jewel Chakma, additional superintendent of police at CID, also confirmed that Noman is an ex-army member who once served in the RAB. 

Noman is the youngest son of late Abu Taher Mia. His elder brother Omar Faruk Hossain, who runs a pharmacy at the village market, mentioned that Noman, after retiring from the army and RAB, had a falling out with his family.

Noman married Safia Sultana Sorna, the daughter of a Power Division official from Ishwardi. After the marriage, he distanced himself from his family. She discouraged him from maintaining family ties and, according to Faruk, even encouraged his involvement in illicit activities.

In 2022, Noman was arrested and jailed for three months for something like the latest scam, locals and family members said but could not elaborate. 

Faruk said, "Noman passed SSC from Char Mehar Azizia High School in 1996 and joined the army as a soldier in 1998. In 2017, he retired voluntarily from the army."

Noman never disclosed his activities to the family. They only heard about his garment business and other ventures but never saw any proof.

Faruk emphasised, "We had no idea about Noman's wrongdoings because he had no contact with us. He came home only once during last Ramadan when our father passed away."

An elderly villager, Shahe Alam, noted, "When Noman came home, he barely spoke to anyone. He was always reserved. We heard he got involved in illegal activities after retiring and was jailed in 2022."

Another villager, Shamsul Haque, said that Noman did not build any assets in the village apart from his father's one-acre land.

Shahjahan, a relative, said, "We heard Noman has four flats in Dhaka and is very wealthy, but he has nothing in the village and maintains no relations with relatives."

Noman Siddique was one of the 17 people arrested by the police nationwide for their involvement in the PSC question paper leak. Noman reportedly obtained the question papers from a driver named Abed Ali and sold them for a hefty profit.