2 BNP Leaders Beaten Over Extortion Claim in Barishal

Two BNP leaders faced a mob beating after a sand trader alleged they demanded Tk 20,000 in extortion in Babuganj, Barishal.

Barishal Airport Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md Mizanur Rahman confirmed the matter. The incident occurred around 8pm on Monday.

The BNP leaders were identified as President of ward number 2 in Chandpasha Union and  Organisational Secretary of the Union BNP Mehedi Hasan Zakir Molla and his associate Abdur Razzak Molla, a member of the same ward BNP.

Locals reported that Zakir demanded Tk 20,000 from Md Zahirul Islam, a sand trader and fellow BNP member of the same ward, to allow his sand business to operate. Discussions regarding this matter had been ongoing between both parties for several days.

Zahirul told Zakir to come to the Raintreetala area to collect the money. When Zakir and Razzak arrived, they were surrounded by some people who were already there. At one stage, the agitated people beat Zakir and Razzak and held them.

Witnesses said locals intervened to resolve the matter. The two were released after giving a written undertaking that they would not engage in such activities in the future.

Several locals alleged that there have been long-standing complaints against Zakir for demanding money from various individuals and businessmen, selling soil from canals, collecting money in the name of arbitration meetings, and intimidating the public.

However, denying the allegations of extortion, Zakir claimed that he did not demand any money. He asserted that he had proposed working together on a partnership basis in the sand business and that he had been framed by misrepresenting the matter.

President of Chandpasha Union BNP Alamgir Hossain Swapan said, “BNP never indulges or tolerates extortion or extortionists. If anyone is found involved in such activities using the party’s name, action will be taken against them.”

OC Mizanur said that no complaint had been filed yet, but action would be taken if one was received.