Police have arrested a youth for allegedly extorting money from a private car owner in Jigatola area of the capital on Tuesday night. The arrestee, identified as 23-year-old Ashraful, is a resident of the Hazaribagh area in Dhaka. His ancestral home is in Chandraganj, under Lakshmipur district. Listed extortionist held with arms in Dhaka Md Abdul Alim, officer-in-charge of Dhanmondi Police Station, said Ashraful was held in Hazaribagh following a tip-off. A video of the extortion incident, which went viral on social media, shows a youth demanding money from a private car owner parked in front of Ibn Sina Diagnostic Centre in Jigatola. After reviewing the footage, police identified and tracked down the suspect. Two brothers killed in Narsingdi ‘over extortion’ A case has been filed against Ashraful at Dhanmondi Police Station. Earlier in the evening, the video was shared in a traffic police group, showing the car owner conversing with the youth before handing him money. The footage sparked public outrage and prompted swift police action.

A powerful transport syndicate has started extorting Tk 832.30 crore from over 1.5 crore Eid travellers as "tips," forcing them to pay exorbitant extra fares, according to a report by the Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity. The report, presented by the organisation’s Secretary-General, Md Mozammel Haque Chowdhury, at a press conference at the Dhaka Reporters’ Unity on Wednesday, highlighted widespread fare irregularities across road, rail, water and air transport. Jatri Kalyan Samity demands end to overcharging, harassment during Eid travel Eid Travel Rush and Fare Anarchy Between 20 March and 31 March, approximately 22.74 crore passenger trips will take place in Dhaka, driven by Eid shopping and travel to home districts. Of these, 1.5 crore people will leave Dhaka for their hometowns. Despite government efforts to regulate fares, 98% of public transport operators are charging excessive amounts, the report states. Fare hikes are primarily attributed to inflation, extortion, employee Eid bonuses, and owners’ profit motives. Besides, the absence of passenger representatives in monitoring teams has made oversight ineffective. Jatri Kalyan Samiti demands ban on unfit vehicles during Eid travel Breakdown of Extra Fare Collection Road Transport ·         Long-distance buses and minibuses: Tk 90 crore extra from 30 lakh passengers (Tk 300 per passenger). ·         City buses: Tk 12 crore from 40 lakh trips (Tk 30 per passenger). ·         CNG auto-rickshaws: Tk 60 crore from 30 lakh passengers (Tk 200 per trip). ·         Battery-powered and pedal rickshaws: Tk 160 crore from 8 crore trips (Tk 20 per passenger). ·         Leguna, Duranta, Diganta (human hauliers): Tk 16 crore from 80 lakh trips (Tk 20 per passenger). ·         Ride-sharing motorcycles: Tk 250 crore from 2.5 crore trips (Tk 100 per trip). ·         Private cars, jeeps, microbuses: Tk 21 crore from 20,000 trips (Tk 3,500 per trip). Water Transport ·         Launches and boats: Tk 80 crore extra from 40 lakh passengers (Tk 200 per passenger). ·         Ferries and river crossings: Tk 100 crore from 10 crore trips (Tk 10 per passenger). Rail Transport ·         Train roof passengers: Tk 80 lakh from 80,000 passengers (Tk 100 bribe per passenger). ·         Passengers without tickets: Tk 7.5 crore from 2.5 lakh passengers (Tk 300 per bribe). Air Transport Domestic flights: Tk 35 crore from 1 lakh passengers (Tk 3,500 per passenger). Call for Reforms The Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity emphasised that the fare hikes are exacerbating the cost of living, encouraging corruption, and increasing road accidents. To curb these issues, it urged authorities to introduce digital fare collection, ban cash transactions, use CCTV for fare monitoring, and improve transport governance. 475 dead from 452 road accidents in October: Jatri Kalyan Samity Press Conference Attendees Present at the press conference were newly elected Chairman Dr Mohammad Zakaria, former Election Commission Secretary Syed Ahmad, former Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority Executive Director Mahmudul Hasan Russell, and Mohammad Alauddin Masud.

A pedestrian was killed and several others were injured in a clash between two groups of BNP and Chhatra Dal over allegedly realising extortion from vehicles in Madhyanagar upazila of Sunamganj on Monday night. The victim was identified as Mohammad Ali, son of late Hossain Ali Talukdar of Hossainpur village of the upazila. Police and locals said followers of upazila unit of BNP convening committee’s member Moktar Hossain had been realising money in extortion from lorries passing through the Mahishkhola Bazar from nearby Tahirpur upazila. As general secretary of Bangshikunda Uttar union unit of Chhatra Dal Harun Mia has tried to take control over the extortion, the trouble started with Moktar, said officer-in-charge Madhyanagar police station Md Sajeeb Rahman. On Monday afternoon, he said, an argument broke out between the two groups over the matter which turned into a clash, leaving several people injured, they said. Jubo Dal leader ‘assaults’ railway staff over ‘extortion’ The injured were taken to Upazila Health Complex where physicians declared Ali dead upon arrival, said the OC. The body was sent to Sadar Hospital morgue for autopsy, he added.

Some staff of Narsingdi railway station have been physically assaulted allegedly by Mahmudul Hasan Chowdhury Sumon, convener of Narsingdi district town unit Jubo Dal, for not paying extortion. Narsingdi station master Abu Taher Mohammad Musa submitted a written complaint to deputy commissioner Mohammad Rashed Hossain Chowdhury against the Jubo Dal leader on Wednesday. The deputy commissioner said, “I have received a written complaint and necessary steps will be taken against those involved in the incident.” Highway extortion surges across Bangladesh threatening economy: Reports According to the complaint, Jubo Dal leader Sumon and his associates have been trying to realise a large sum of money from the staff of the railway station by intimidating them. They use the VIP room of the station for taking drugs and gambling and misbehave with the passengers at the station, reads the complaint. Extortion: Battery-run autorickshaw drivers block Dhaka-Aricha highway On February 21, around 8:15 pm, a group of criminals led by Sumon entered the office room of the station with weapons and physically assaulted the station master and other railway staff and threatened to kill them. Abu Taher said "We are living in constant fear due to the harassment by Sumon and his associates. Our regular operations are being disrupted and they are not only threatening us but also harassing passengers. Sumon has physically assaulted one of our senior staff members. We have submitted a written complaint to the DC and are urging the administration to take swift action." Denying the allegation, Jubo Dal leader Sumon said the station master is spreading propagandas against me. “All the allegations brought against me are false and fabricated,” he claimed. Mahsin Hossain Bidyut, president of Narsingdi district unit Jubo Dal, said, “If the allegation brought against Sumon is true, necessary action will be taken against him on the basis of evidence as BNP's acting chairman Tarique Rahman ordered to show zero tolerance against those involved in extortion using the party name.”

Jubo Dal has suspended a member at Gazipur’s Sreepur upazila unit after video footage showed him in extortion from traders at local MC Bazar on Saturday. The BNP’s youth wing Jubo Dal took the action against Jahangir Alam after a video showing the Jubo Dal leader of the upazila unit of the convening committee went viral on social media, triggering severe criticism. He also held the post of former member secretary of Telihati union unit of Chhatra Dal and is son of Nuru Bepari of Mulaid village under the union. Gazipur district unit of Jubo Dal Convenor Ataur Rahman Molla confirmed that the executive committee of the Jubo Dal suspended him on saturday night and his party never supports such deeds. In the video footage, he was heard saying, “From now on, MC Bazar will run under my control as long as I am alive.... now and now, my people will start collecting khajna (extortion). If anyone obstructs, there will be dire consequences. I don't care if someone leased the market. Right now my people will start collecting money.” Jubo Dal suspends its Daulatpur VP for breaking discipline Preferring anonymity, some traders said wearing red tape on heads and covering faces with towels Jahangir and his 50 to 60 cohorts stormed the market at noon on Saturday and demanded money from traders brandishing machetes. Many traders fled the market in panic and some paid the money as per demand, they said. Sreepur police station’s Officer-in-Charge Joynal Abedin Mandal said their several teams are working to arrest those who forced the traders to pay the money.

Planning Adviser Dr Wahiduddin Mahmud on Monday acknowledged that the level of extortion in the country has not significantly changed compared to the previous Awami League regime. “Corruption itself is an economy,” he said while briefing reporters at the NEC conference room on the outcome of the Ecnec meeting. In this regard, the Adviser mentioned that if there is a large number of archways being built or a huge number of people being transported by bus, it also creates a flow of money. “Money also circulates in the politics of patronage and tender politics. Those activities have, I do not know, surely been reduced.” Govt prioritising quality over quantity in development spending: Planning Adviser He said that the wastage associated with evil politics temporarily created a flow of money in the current economy. “But that does not mean that these practices need to be reintroduced again.” The Planning Adviser said that economic activities in rural areas need to be further reactivated if employment generation is to be ensured. “Generally, there is a scarcity of employment (in the country),” he added.

Two policemen have been arrested from Dhaka’s Sher-e-Banglanagar area in the capital on charges of extortion and kidnapping. The arrestees are sub-inspectors Tuhin Kazi and Moshiur Rahman Taposh. Both were posted at Mirpur Shah Ali Police Station in the capital. Woman arriving from Dubai arrested with over 8 kg gold at Dhaka airport They have already been suspended after primary investigation. Being informed, a team of police from Sher-e-Banglanagar police station arrested them on Tuesday night on charges of extortion after kidnapping. Later, both of them were shown arrested in a case filed at the police station by one Shahadat Sarker. BCL leader arrested for threatening independent candidate in Narsingdi Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Sher-e-Banglanagar police station Ahad Ali, confirmed the matter. They were produced before a Dhaka court on Wednesday with a remand plea. After the hearing, the court put them on a three-day remand each, the OC said. 3 AL men arrested for attacking independent candidate's supporter in Rajshahi Contacted, Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Mirpur Division, DMP, Jasim Uddin, said legal procedure has been completed against the two SIs as primary investigation found the allegation against them to be true.

Dhaka, Mar 23 (UNB)- Dhallywood star Shakib Khan on Thursday (March 23, 2023) filed a case against film producer Rahmat Ullah over murder attempt and extortion. The actor filed the case with the court of Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Arafatul Rakib, confirmed his lawyer Tanvir Ahmed. Read more: Shakib Khan goes to DB, files written complaint against allegations of rape After recording the plaintiff's statement, the court summoned Rahmat Ullah to appear before it on April 26, said Tanvir. Earlier on Sunday, Shakib went to the Detective Branch (DB) office of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) and filed a written complaint against Rahmat Ullah who brought a rape allegation against him. On March 15, Rahmat Ullah filed a written complaint against the actor in the Bangladesh Film Artists Association, accusing him of sexual misconduct and raping an Australian woman, a co-producer of the film "Operation Agneepath". Read More: Film Rajkumar: Everything about Shakib Khan’s Upcoming Movie with US Actress

A police officer in Munshiganj was ‘closed’ and attached to the district police line for allegedly trying to extort money through threats of crossfire from a businessman. The accused is Mohammad Suman, assistant sub-inspector (ASI) of Gazaria police station. Mahfuzur Rahman Al Mamun, Superintendent of Police (SP) of Munshiganj, said the officer was closed and attached to the district police line today. The businessman, Shakil Farazi, said the police officer informed him on Sunday that a narcotic case was filed against him at Narayanganj port police station. The ASI picked him up on a white microbus on Monday morning, he said. The microbus went to a remote area of Char Baushia area. Shakil said there were three other persons in the microbus- constable Rafiqul, unidentified man who claimed to be an ASI, and the driver. “They held me at gunpoint and demanded TK 2 lakh,” he said. They snatched away his mobile phone, and money, beat him, and tried to handcuff him, he said. Meanwhile, some locals gathered on the spot and rescued him. The accused ASI, Suman, told UNB that one of his friends, a police officer at Narayanganj port police station, informed him about a case filed against the businessman. “My friend came to Gazaria, and we took Shakil there to talk in ‘private’.”  

Two cases have been filed against popular film actress Mahiya Mahi and her husband — on charge of “defaming police” after going live on Facebook and alleged involvement in extortion and assaulting a businessman. Rokon Mia, sub-inspector of Bason Police Station, filed a case under Digital Security Act against Mahi and her husband Rakib Sarkar while Ismail Hossain, a businessman, filed the other case on Friday night with Bason Police Station against 28 people including the couple on charges of assaulting, vandalism and forcibly occupying land. Abu Torab Mohammad Shamsuddin, deputy commissioner of Gazipur Metropolitan Police, said police filed the case against the couple for “tarnishing the image of police, including Gazipur Metropolitan Police Commissioner Molla Nazrul Islam”, after going live on Facebook. “Legal action will be taken against them after investigation,” he said. Also read: Actress Mahiya Mahi collects AL nomination form for Chapainawabganj-2 by-election According to the case statement, Mahiya Mahi, from her Facebook page, went live early Friday — making allegations against police. During the live session, she said Ismail Hossain and Mamun Sarkar, through their people, carried out an attack on a showroom, Sony Raj Car Palace, on Dhaka-Tangail highway near Bhawal Badre Alam Government College. The actress and her husband also alleged that the Gazipur Metropolitan Police commissioner “supported the attackers” after taking bribe. She also said she feared getting arrested after returning to the country from Makkah. During the Facebook live, Mahiya’s husband Rakib alleged that police arrested security guards of the car showroom. Read More: 6 by-elections: Mahi fails to get nod, as AL brings in alliance partners Meanwhile, Ismail Hossain, owner of Rod Binding Factory in Itahata area of Gazipur city, in his complaint said, he has been running a factory in the area for the past ten years after purchasing land there. On Friday, some people on behalf of Rakib and Mahiya attacked and vandalized the factory, he said. They also beat up five people at the factory, leaving them injured, while trying to occupy the land, according to the complaint. Contacted, Molla Nazrul, Commissioner of Gazipur Metropolitan Police, said, “Actress Mahiya brought allegations against police on Facebook and tried to draw sympathy through lies.” Read More: Mahiya Mahi set for motherhood