Extortion in the name of ‘Mujib Borsho celebration’: police arrest 3

Police arrested three individuals on charge of extorting businessmen in Kotwali area of Chattogram city in the name of "Mujib Borsho celebration".

The arrestees are -- Riaz Ahmed alias Razu (40), Shahjahan (45), and Batul Barua alias Dano (38).

Shah Md Abdur Rauf, additional deputy commissioner (south division) of Chattogram Metropolitan Police, said they arrested the trio based on complaints of a businessman.

The arrestees demanded Tk 20,000 for "Mujib Borsho celebration", the businessman said.  

"They are basically drug addicts. They set up a name-only club to extort money whenever any celebration was approaching, to buy drugs," the ADC said, adding that they have been active for over a year.

The police official said the arrestees have extorted around Tk 35,000 -- in the name of "Mujib Borsho celebration" -- from businessmen in Agrabad and Nandankanan area.  

According to police, the trio along with two others went to a shop named Three Home Sketch last Monday and demanded Tk 20,000. As the shop owner was outside, its employee Modhusodon Das declined to pay them.

The accused then verbally abused and threatened him and left the shop saying they would come back for money again on Friday.

The accused went to the shop yesterday and demanded Tk 20,000 again. The shop employees then informed police who rushed there and arrested the three. Two others fled away, police said.