Country under shadow of widespread extortion

Bangla Press Desk:   A few days ago, a businessman in Dhaka’s Pallabi received a death threat from criminals demanding extortion: “You are a big businessman. Give us five crore taka, or we will kill you. Your family won’t survive.” When he failed to pay the demanded money, the criminals shot him in the leg. Since then, he has been living in panic with his family, partially disabled from the attack.

Such incidents are not limited to Pallabi. Since 5 August last year, similar extortion and threats have been occurring repeatedly across Dhaka and other parts of the country. This is how silent extortion has become rampant.

A former director of the Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry said, “My factory is in Chittagong EPZ. After the political shift, a large sum of extortion was demanded. I have been running export-oriented businesses for two decades, contributing to the economy and leading business organizations. Yet I have faced threats because I did not pay. For eight months, my reputation has been attacked on social media as well.”

A prominent female entrepreneur in Chittagong, who wished to remain anonymous, said that the city’s top criminal, Sajjad Ali (Big Sajjad), demanded Tk10 million from her. When she did not pay, her entire family received repeated death threats. She and her family now live in constant fear.

Meanwhile, field visits over the past two days (Sunday and Monday) revealed rampant street extortion in areas including Karwan Bazar, Gulistan, New Market, Mirpur, Jatrabari, Tejgaon, Uttara, Motijheel, and Old Dhaka. Local businesspeople reported paying Tk100 to Tk500 daily to extortionists. A leader of the Hawkers’ Association said extortionists threaten business owners daily to collect large sums of money.

Extortionists’ criminal activities continue unabated. Street vendors are particularly vulnerable, and even senior political leaders are harassed. Extortion is demanded during construction of homes as well. Most extortionists have political affiliations—some with old parties, others with new political groups. Some even claim the names of senior leaders to collect money. The phenomenon has spread nationwide like a pandemic, affecting cities and upazilas alike. Victims report that politically influential individuals and party-affiliated leaders are most often involved. Even though police have arrested some extortionists and political parties have imposed internal measures, the practice continues.

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Baharul Alam stated, “Police are active nationwide in arresting those involved in extortion. Many criminal extortionists have already been apprehended.”

At a recent event, interim government’s Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed said, “Political compromises are difficult, but dealing with extortion is easy. Once one group falls, another quickly takes over.” This suggests that extortion has become a permanent feature of the political economy: while leadership changes, the method and structure remain the same.

Investigations indicate that extortion causes insecurity among business owners and the general public alike.

Over the past few months, law enforcement has verified more than 2,325 extortion cases nationwide. A source within the law enforcement agencies said, “In most cases, local political figures or organizations are involved.”

According to the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), over 2,500 extortionists have been identified in the capital alone. Police in each district maintain updated lists, with over 1,000 extortionists identified per district. Nationwide, this amounts to over 50,000 individuals under investigation for extortion, many of them new.

Lists obtained from Mirpur’s Pallabi and Tejgaon’s Mohammadpur police stations show 66 and 125 active extortionists, respectively. Across DMP stations, updated lists include 50–100 names each.

DMP Commissioner Sheikh Md Sajjat Ali said, “Extortion is a social problem. It drives up the price of daily essentials and causes suffering for ordinary people. We are maintaining updated lists and taking action.”

According to statistics, over the past 10 months, more than 1,000 people have been arrested for extortion nationwide. Between 15 July and 17 August, 650 people were arrested across eight divisions; 371 were “new extortionists,” mainly from Dhaka and 13 other districts. In six months, DMP registered 419 extortion cases and arrested over 100 extortionists.

Experts say that after the 5 August 2024 student-led uprising and the fall of the Awami League government, law and order became fragile. New extortionists, many with political affiliations, exploited this vacuum.

Police note that the main causes include: Collapse of previous Awami League-linked extortion networks, creating a “vacuum”; opportunistic leaders exploiting political uncertainty and previously hidden criminals becoming active

Major extortion targets include businesses, transportation, markets, housing, and labor organizations. Extortionists also leverage local influence and gang culture to operate alongside political patronage.

Violence and Killings:

Over the past 14 months, extortion-related violence has killed over 100 people nationwide, including at least 20 in Dhaka. Law enforcement sources say top criminals and their associates are involved in these killings. Notable incidents include: Shooting of BNP leader Kamrul Ahsan (Sadhan) in Badda and murder of Ward Jubo Dal member Arif Sikder in Hatirjheel.

Investigations reveal that extortion began in Dhaka after 5 August 2024, carried out by politically affiliated groups and top criminals released from jail. Several high-profile cases involved massive sums, including the collection of 11 cheques totaling Tk5 crore from a former MP’s residence on Green Road, Dhaka.

Business owners in Pallabi have filed written complaints, with one saying, “A man named Jamil threatened me for extortion. Now my family and I are in grave danger.”

A Karwan Bazar businessman said, “I run a spice business. Since 5 August last year, I’ve paid many extortion demands. Now they want more lakhs of taka. I couldn’t pay, so I’m constantly on the run.”

Truck drivers, including Rahul Amin, reported, “After loading from various districts, we have to pay extortion in several installments along the route.”

Investigations show that silent extortion is ongoing nationwide, with five main groups identified as orchestrators: politically connected individuals; certain elements within law enforcement; self-interested groups inside the administration; local criminals and gang networks and alleged leaders operating under professional associations.

Transport Sector:

In Dhaka alone, daily extortion at 53 transport terminals totals approximately Tk15 million, reaching Tk60–80 million monthly. Nationally, bus and minibus operators reportedly lose over a billion taka annually to illegal extortion. Drivers and assistants report being stopped, assaulted, or blocked from routes if they refuse to pay.

Markets:

Street and wholesale markets also face daily extortion. Vendors report paying 50–hundreds of taka per shop under the pretext of “market control.” Refusal can lead to halted deliveries, restricted business, or even physical attacks.

Notable Complaints:

On 6 October, Tanjin Hamid Mitul, daughter-in-law of the late BNP Secretary-General Khondkar Delwar, filed a complaint with Dhaka’s Hatirjheel police over extortion.

On 20 October, members of the Bangladesh Reconditioned Vehicles Importers and Dealers Association (BARVIDA) held a human chain protest in Baridhara over ongoing extortion and attacks at car sales centers, warning of halting car sales, registration, and revenue payments if no action is taken.

BARVIDA President Abdul Haque said, “Since August, our members have received extortion demands from unknown numbers. Some even sent images of AK-47 rifles to intimidate us. Twelve attacks on car sales centers with Molotov cocktails have occurred so far. Despite filing police complaints, no arrests have been made. Businesspeople now live in fear.”

RAB’s Director of Law and Media ZM Intekhab Chowdhury said, “RAB is active nationwide in arresting extortionists and other criminals.”

BP/SP