Extortion recorded on ‘chandabd’

An online platform called ‘chandabd.com’ now offers citizens the opportunity to report extortion without disclosing their identities or facing the hassle of filing a police report. Users simply need to detail the location, nature of the exaction, and the amount requested, allowing their experiences to reach authorities concerned.

Just 13 days after its launch on August 25, the platform published at least 621 complaints, with total extortion claims reaching approximately Tk18.616 crore. The creators behind the platform remain anonymous, as no contact details or addresses are listed on the website. However, the site notes that its core purpose is to centralize and document extortion reports across the country. Filing a report requires no account creation, login, name, phone number, or email address.

Extortion demands range from Tk200 to Tk500,000.
The published complaints highlight a wide range of extortion methods and monetary demands:

Chapainawabganj (Gomastapur): A local resident reported that officials demanded Tk5,000 per family card, alleging that cards would be withheld if payment was refused.

Cumilla (Daulatpur Chaumuhani): An extortion demand of Tk500,000 was reported regarding a construction project. Although work briefly resumed after payment, another group halted construction by demanding that materials and labor be sourced exclusively through them.

Dhaka (Mohammadpur): Street vendors at a Sunday market on Salimullah Road were allegedly forced to pay Tk2,000 each to secure shop space—a heavy burden for hawkers earning only a few hundred taka daily.

Sherpur (Jhenaigati): Individuals set up tables along the road near the Gajni Abokash center to collect Tk 200 from every passing auto-rickshaw.
In the Thantoli area of Madaripur Sadar Upazila, an allegation has emerged regarding a demand for Tk 5 lakh in extortion to purchase land and build a house, explicitly naming a local political leader.

Whether the amounts involve millions or a few hundred taka, the underlying reality remains identical across changing scenarios: money is systematically demanded or collected in specific locations.

Dhaka Leads in Extortion Amounts

According to division-wise data from Chandabd, the Dhaka division accounts for the highest monetary value of extortion demands, representing nearly 66% of the total claimed amount. A total of 269 complaints were published from this division, amounting to about Tk 12.29 crore.

Khulna division follows, with 41 complaints totaling Tk2.07 crore, which constitutes 11.1% of the total sum.

Chittagong registered 137 complaints involving demands of Tk about 1.5,78 crore. Rajshahi reported 55 complaints totaling Tk1.0,7 crore, while Rangpur logged 41 complaints amounting to Tk96.33 lakh. 

Sylhet logged 20 complaints totaling Tk about 34.11 lakh, Barisal recorded 33 complaints involving Tk15.71 lakh, and Mymensingh filed 25 complaints amounting to Tk14.14 lakh.

At the district level, Dhaka recorded the highest number of complaints at 142. This was followed by Chittagong with 44, Narayanganj with 34, Comilla with 33, Gazipur with 22, Munshiganj with 17, Noakhali with 16, Mymensingh and Bogra with 15 each, and Khulna with 14 complaints.

Forced Extortion Tops Complaint Types

Analyzing the nature of the complaints reveals various patterns of extortion. Data from chandabd indicates that forced collection of money comprises the highest category, with 234 listed complaints. Demands for extortion follow with 203 complaints. Additionally, there are 67 complaints regarding bribe demands or acceptances, 59 cases involving threats or intimidation, and 56 complaints covering other categories.

Anonymity Guaranteed, Reports Forwarded to Authorities

Many citizens hesitate to report extortion publicly due to fear of retaliation, a gap chandabd.com aims to address. The website does not require users to submit names, phone numbers, or email addresses. Users can detail the division, district, upazila or police station, approximate location, incident type, requested amount, outcome, and narrative details. Photos can also be attached as supporting evidence.

Platform administrators claim that submitted reports undergo verification via artificial intelligence prior to publication. Once fake or inconsistent entries are filtered out, complaints are automatically emailed to the respective police station, as well as to the District Superintendent of Police and Divisional Police Office. Provisions are also in place to copy central authorities, including the Inspector General of Police (IGP), ensuring that reports do not remain buried in local police files.
Dr. Tawohidul Haque, an associate professor at the Institute of Social Welfare and Research at Dhaka University and a socio-criminologist, believes that a significant portion of bribery and extortion occurs in silence. Victims often hesitate to report these crimes publicly for various reasons. In his view, digital platforms that offer anonymous reporting can help alleviate people's fears. Furthermore, if the police verify these complaints and take investigative and legal action, such initiatives could play a role in curbing extortion.

Extortion Map Shows Demands Nationwide

A recent addition to chandabd.com is the "Extortion Map." This interactive feature displays the locations of complaints categorized by division, district, upazila, or police station. Hovering over or tapping an indicator reveals the requested sum, while clicking it brings up the location, category, demanded amount, outcome, and a brief description. Consequently, isolated reports are no longer standalone stories; they form a comprehensive nationwide visual of extortion allegations.

However, the biggest challenge for this platform lies right here—it is not about the volume of complaints, but their authenticity and subsequent legal outcomes. Ultimately, publishing an allegation online and proving a crime in court remain two entirely different matters.