Tk 20-30 Million Extorted Daily at Karwan Bazar, claims MP Milon

Saiful Alam Khan Milon, MP of Dhaka-12, has alleged that extortion worth Tk 2-3 crore takes place daily at the Dhaka’s Karwan Bazar.

He made the remarks on Monday at a budget dialogue in Dhaka, organized by the Citizen’s Platform for SDG Implementation.

Raising questions over whether transactions carried out under mutual understanding should be considered extortion, the Jamaat-e-Islami MP said, “Like the previous government, people of the ruling party are controlling this extortion syndicate even under the current administration. Even from a few wholesale chicken shops in Karwan Bazar alone, Tk 60 lakh is being collected monthly.”

He said the burden of this extortion ultimately falls on ordinary consumers, pushing up inflation.

BNP MP Mahmuda Habiba strongly protested his remarks at the event, calling his position “unfortunate”. She said, “If I am elected MP in my constituency, I will declare jihad against those involved in extortion, whether from the ruling party or outside it, and take legal action.”

In response, Milon said, “Cases are not even being filed. How can we seek legal action then?” He added that he had already brought the matter to the attention of the home minister and sought his cooperation. He also said he would soon approach the Prime Minister directly to seek intervention to stop extortion.