4 expelled student leaders on 7-day remand
A Dhaka court has granted a seven-day remand for four expelled student leaders in connection with an extortion case. Three of the accused are former members of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, while another is also a former member of the Bangladesh Democratic Student Council (BDSC).
The remand order was issued on Sunday (July 27) by Dhaka Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Md Ziadur Rahman following a hearing. The four are accused of demanding Tk 50 lakh in extortion from former Awami League MP Shammi Ahmed at her residence in the capital’s Gulshan area.
The accused have been identified as Ibrahim Hossain Munna, former Dhaka city convener of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement; Md. Sakadaun Siam and Sadab, members of the same organization; and Abdur Razzak Riyad, a former central committee member of the BDSC. Following their detention, both student organizations permanently expelled them on Saturday.
They were detained on Saturday night from Shammi Ahmed’s residence while allegedly attempting to collect the extortion money.
Investigation Officer Mokhlesur Rahman, inspector of Gulshan Police Station, sought a 10-day remand for the accused. The remand plea was supported by Additional Public Prosecutor Shamsuddoha Sumon during the hearing.
According to case documents, five individuals went to Shammi Ahmed’s residence recently, introduced themselves as “coordinators,” and demanded Tk 50 lakh in extortion. As Shammi Ahmed was not home at the time, the demand was made to her husband. A few days earlier, they had reportedly collected Tk 10 lakh from the same residence.
On Saturday around 8:00 pm, the group returned again, this time to collect gold ornaments, prompting the family to alert the police. Law enforcers arrested five individuals from the scene, including Riyad, while one of the accused, Kazi Gaurab Apu, managed to flee before police arrived.
Later, Shammi Ahmed’s husband, Siddiq Abu Zafar, filed a case with Gulshan Police Station naming six individuals in connection with the extortion.
In his complaint, he stated that on July 17, accused Abdur Razzak Riyad and Kazi Gaurab Apu visited their residence in Gulshan-2, introduced themselves as coordinators, and demanded Tk 50 lakh and gold ornaments. When he refused, they allegedly labeled him as a supporter of the Awami League and autocracy, and threatened to have him arrested. Out of fear, the family paid Tk 10 lakh. On July 19, the accused again issued threats, demanding the remaining Tk 40 lakh. Finally, on July 26, when they came to collect the rest, police apprehended them at the scene.