Business leaders in Bauphal upazila shut shops on Friday after alleged extortionists threatened to kill them for refusing to pay regular tolls.

The president of the Kalaiya Daspara Construction Materials Owners Association, Mostafizur Rahman Chowdhury, was first threatened on Thursday.

Traders later filed a written complaint with the police that evening.

On Friday, the group’s general secretary Masud Rana was also threatened with a sharp weapon.

Locals and shop owners confronted the suspect, who then fled the scene.

In protest, traders closed shops from 10:30am to 1:30pm. The strike was withdrawn after newly elected MP Shafiqul Islam Masud visited the area and promised legal action against those involved.

Traders alleged that Shanto Pyada, 22, son of Daspara Union BNP Ward No. 2 general secretary Sohrab Hossain Pyada, 55, along with a few others, regularly collected extortion money.

Talking to traders, it was learned that there are 32 shops in the Daspara bus stand area on the west side of the Kalaiya Dhanhat Bridge.

They said they bring rods, cement, sand and stones by trawlers and cargo vessels from different parts of the country.

At least 15 to 20 trawlers and cargo vessels arrive there every day.

Traders alleged they were forced to pay Tk 1,000 to Tk 1,500 per vessel as extortion.

Association general secretary Masud Rana said they decided in an emergency meeting on Wednesday evening to stop paying extortion.

He said Shanto Pyada became angry over the decision.

On Thursday morning, when Shanto came to collect money, association president Mostafizur Rahman Chowdhury refused to pay. Shanto then openly threatened to kill him, Masud Rana said.

Mostafizur Rahman Chowdhury confirmed the incident and said Shanto always carries weapons.

He said they are living in fear and demanded his immediate arrest.

Attempts to contact Shanto failed.

His father, BNP leader Sohrab Hossain Pyada, said he had taken a water body lease for Tk 40,000 from Daspara Union BNP president Ali Azam Chowdhury.

He claimed that his son collected Tk 200 per trawler and said it was not extortion.

However, sources at the Upazila Land Office and the Upazila Nirbahi Officer office said the Kalaiya and Daspara canals had not been leased to anyone.

BNP leader Ali Azam Chowdhury could not be reached as his mobile phone was switched off.

Assistant Superintendent of Police Arif Muhammad Shakur said he had spoken to the MP and that legal action would be taken soon against those involved.