Extortion Continues Under Political Influence

Extortion has now taken an institutional form in Bangladesh. What was once seen as an easy way to make illegal money without hard work has become a system across society and, in many cases, almost a profession. The entire country is reportedly being held hostage by around 4,000 listed extortionists and 2,500 criminals. The number of extortionists and the forms of extortion have increased over time.

Extortion is no longer driven simply by financial hardship. It is increasingly linked to lifestyle, luxury and the desire to exercise influence. Criminologists, sociologists and law enforcement analysts say extortion is not merely the forcible collection of money but part of an organised economic and political network. According to them, political power is now a major driving force behind extortion in Bangladesh. Political power may change, but the basic structure of extortion remains largely unchanged. Only the groups benefiting from and controlling it change.

The targets of extortionists and criminals are generally less powerful, while those behind them often have political influence and muscle power. This imbalance leaves the targeted individuals vulnerable. Experts say extortion will not end unless the government demonstrates genuine political will.

Almost every sector of the country has been affected by extortion, including transport, footpaths, healthcare and service institutions, markets and businesses. Even businesses operating legally are often forced to pay extortion money. There have been reports of business owners shutting down operations in some areas because of pressure from extortionists. Many have also received death threats, while attacks and casualties have occurred when victims refused to pay or delayed meeting criminal demands.

A.B.M. Nazimus Sakib, an associate teacher at the Department of Criminology at the University of Dhaka, told Inqilab that extortionists do not necessarily have a specific political identity but often operate under political shelter. “Their only target is to earn money. Instead of earning through socially accepted means, they take money easily by threatening people,” he said.

He said political influence behind extortionists often discourages the administration from intervening. “The police in Bangladesh have the capacity to control any kind of crime. But they do not have independence,” he said. According to him, the Constitution allows police to question any suspicious person when necessary, but they lack institutional backing. Without political patronage, law enforcement agencies face difficulties in controlling extortionists and criminals.

He said the government must first demonstrate sincerity in tackling the problem. Police often arrest lower-level criminals and send them to court, while the groups operating behind them remain untouched. These alleged masterminds often identify themselves as members of political parties or influential groups and collect money from markets, transport sectors and other businesses.

He said powerful groups also use listed criminals to protect their illegal power and income. Arresting only petty criminals at the field level will not be enough to control extortion. “The root of the problem must be attacked,” he said, adding that political will from the government is essential.

In recent months, widespread extortion has been reported in connection with footpaths, public transport terminals, construction sites, businesses and land grabbing. Incidents include demands for money and a coordinated attack on the studio of content creator Salman Muqtadir in the ECB Chattar area of Dhaka; vandalism and looting at the Radda MCH-FP health centre and office in Mirpur-1; blank firing and assaults in Banglamotor over an alleged extortion demand; attempts to occupy homes in Mohammadpur; attacks on businesses in Adabor; extortion letters sent to 30 families in Kushtia in the name of an extremist group; and armed attacks by the alleged ‘Boro Sazzad’ gang after demanding large one-time and monthly payments from businesses in Chandgaon, Bayezid and Hathazari in Chattogram.

According to Special Response Battalion (SRB) sources, its latest lists, updated on September 10, contain 3,586 extortionists and 2,258 listed criminals across the country. Narayanganj has the highest number of listed extortionists, at 565, followed by Chattogram with 503. Uttara in Dhaka has 393, Mirpur 347 and Keraniganj 277. The figures are 247 in Sirajganj, 200 in Khulna and 149 in Barishal.

Among the 2,258 listed criminals, Narayanganj has the highest number at 408, followed by Sirajganj with 324, Chattogram 277, Mymensingh 239, Rajshahi 126, Khulna 124, Keraniganj 100 and other areas of the capital 35. The SRB has updated the lists based on its battalions but has not disclosed the names of the individuals. Experts believe the actual number could be higher.

SRB Director Wing Commander M.Z.M. Intekhab Chowdhury told Inqilab that the agency gives the highest priority to taking legal and effective action against extortion. He said the SRB has so far conducted 1,098 operations against extortion and arrested 3,232 extortionists. Based on intelligence information, areas with significant extortion activity include Khilkhet, Hatirjheel, Mohammadpur, Badda, Adabor, Bhatara, Khilgaon, Uttara East and Pallabi.

He said extortion carried out under the protection of political or influential groups, professional extortion, the involvement of juvenile or young criminals and organised crime networks are being identified separately, and legal action is being taken against all forms of extortion. “The main objective of the SRB is to ensure the security of ordinary people, maintain a safe environment for business and uphold the rule of law. No individual, group or influential person is above the law. If an allegation is proved, necessary action will be taken under the existing law,” he said.

Meanwhile, a Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) investigation conducted over more than one and a half years has identified 1,530 people allegedly involved in extortion and land and property grabbing in the capital. Of them, 278 have been identified as alleged masterminds. The report says 230 of these individuals are current or former leaders or activists of the BNP and its affiliated organisations.

The party has denied the allegations, saying genuine and ideological leaders and activists of the party are not involved in such activities. However, several accused individuals have already been expelled from the party for alleged extortion and violations of party discipline. On Sunday, the SRB arrested former president of BNP’s Khilkhet thana unit Shahinur Alam Marfat over an alleged extortion case. Khilkhet police station Officer-in-Charge Sohrab Hossain said the SRB detained Shahinur over the allegation and handed him over to the police station at noon. He was later taken to the Dhaka Metropolitan Police Detective Branch office on Minto Road.

Earlier, police arrested engineer B.M. Ibrahim, also known as ‘Tala Ibrahim’, a former joint convener of Ward 33 of Dhaka North Jubo Dal, over an allegation that he extorted Tk 50 lakh using a false identity in Mohammadpur. He had previously been expelled from Jubo Dal over allegations of various misconduct.

Following a preliminary investigation that found evidence of involvement in the attack and vandalism at the Radda MCH-FP centre in Mirpur, Ferdousi Ahmed Mishti, a reserved-seat MP, was forced to resign on October 1 on the instructions of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. She was also asked to resign from the party.
Police arrested Nur Alam, a former joint general secretary of Shah Ali thana Jubo Dal, from the Darus Salam area over alleged involvement in the attack, vandalism and looting at the health centre. He was expelled from Jubo Dal on September 30 for disciplinary violations.

In April, a case was filed against former Jubo Dal leader Md Moin Uddin Moin of Sher-e-Bangla Nagar police station over an allegation that he demanded Tk 500,000 from the Centre for Kidney Diseases and Urology (CKD) Hospital in the Shyamoli area. Central Jubo Dal leaders visited the hospital and said the accused had been carrying out such activities by using the organisation’s name.

In the Banglamotor area, police arrested and placed on remand expelled Hatirjheel thana Jubo Dal convener Ferdous Ahmed Saimon over allegations of demanding extortion money from a medicine trader and firing blank shots. Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has said that criminals have no political identity. He said strict legal action is being taken against anyone based on specific allegations, regardless of political affiliation, and that police and other law enforcement agencies are active in this regard.

He also said police operations against extortionists, criminals, armed individuals and drug traders are ongoing and will be intensified. Concerned citizens have called for legal protection for victims and witnesses of extortion so that they can file complaints without fear.