Salahuddin demands probe into any adviser's link to Gulshan extortion

BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed has called for a thorough investigation into allegations whether any adviser to the interim government had links to an extortion incident in Dhaka’s Gulshan.

Speaking at a press conference held at his residence on Thursday, August 14, Salahuddin stressed the need for transparency, urging authorities to clarify whether any member of the interim cabinet was involved in the case.  

“It is essential to establish the truth and inform the public whether any adviser has any connection with the Gulshan extortion incident,” he said. “Without a proper investigation, further doubts and questions will inevitably arise.”

He demanded a detailed, impartial, and transparent inquiry into the matter. 

At the same time, Salahuddin urged all political parties to refrain from making misleading statements ahead of the upcoming national elections.

“Any individual or group attempting to sabotage the electoral process or advocating for a boycott will be marginalised in national politics,” he warned.

The call for investigation follows the circulation of a confessional video on social media late on Wednesday, August 13, in which Jane Alam Apu, former joint convener of the Bangladesh Ganatantrik Chhatra Sangsad, alleged he met an adviser in front of a hotel in Gulshan in the early hours of the morning prior to the incident.

In a separate press conference held outside the National Museum on Thursday, Apu’s wife, Kazi Anisha, claimed that the confession had been forcibly extracted by a leader of the BNP, raising concerns over the circumstances under which the video was recorded.  

The allegations have sparked growing public and political scrutiny, with demands mounting for an independent probe to uncover the full facts.