Extortion in Chattogram continues in the name of fugitive criminal Sazzad

‘Pay Tk 2 million or we will abduct your son’; ‘Pay Tk 1 million or we will kill you at your chamber’: 7 arrested in police operation

Extortion has continued unabated in Chattogram, with people being threatened with death while being asked to pay money in the name of fugitive Shibir cadre Sazzad Ali alias Bara Sazzad. The name of Mohammad Rayhan, another of Sazzad’s associates who is also on the run in Bangladesh, has also surfaced in the extortion threats.

Most recently, a physician was threatened with death after being asked to pay Tk 1 million in extortion. He was told that even 100 police officers would not be able to save him and that he would be shot dead. Earlier, a car businessman was demanded Tk 2 million over the phone and threatened that his son would be abducted and killed.

Police arrested seven people in raids conducted in different parts of the city and district on Monday night over the phone-based extortion. Chattogram Superintendent of Police Masud Alam said the seven are associates of fugitive Sazzad Ali and jailed criminal Mobarak Hossain Emon alias David Emon.

Police said physician M Y F Parvez was initially asked to pay Tk 1 million in extortion. He is a resident of Chikandandi Union in Hathazari, Chattogram. He runs a chamber at a diagnostic centre in Aman Bazar under Ward No. 1 of South Pahartali in Chattogram City Corporation.

The physician was threatened several times by people claiming to be criminal Bara Sazzad and his associate Rayhan. Following the threats, physician Parvez filed a general diary with Hathazari Police Station on September 3.

According to the GD, at around 10:54pm on September 2, a man called the mobile number he uses for patients’ appointments from a foreign number. His assistant, Happy Barua, received the call. The caller wanted to speak to Parvez, after which Happy handed the phone to him.

The caller introduced himself as Bara Sazzad and ordered Parvez to arrange Tk 1 million within 24 hours. Otherwise, he threatened to come to the physician’s chamber at any time and kill him.

Later, the physician received several more threats through WhatsApp text and audio messages from a person identifying himself as Sazzad’s associate Rayhan. The messages said, “If you do not send the money, there will be serious trouble. Our men are following you. We also have your car number. Even if there are 100 police officers, we will shoot you dead. We will pretend to be a patient and kill you at your chamber.”

When Parvez failed to pay within the stipulated time, the callers expressed anger and doubled the demand. The threat said, “You do not know who I am, Rayhan. You are being disrespectful. Instead of Tk 1 million, you will have to pay Tk 2 million.”

Earlier, a businessman named Maksud Rahman was also demanded Tk 2 million over the phone in the name of Bara Sazzad. The caller said, “I am Bara Sazzad’s man. Rayhan’s man. You earn Tk 2.5 million a month. You have to pay Tk 2 million. Otherwise, I will abduct and kill your son. I will see how your daughter goes to college.”

Maksud Rahman is a resident of Mozaffar Nagar under Bayezid Bostami Police Station in the city. His father is Mozaffar Ahmed Chowdhury. Maksud owns a car sales business called MK Chowdhury Trading and Transports and is also involved in real estate and other businesses. Amid continued threats over the extortion demand, Maksud’s wife Mahfuza Khanam Runa filed a general diary with the police station.

Meanwhile, police arrested seven people in raids at different locations on Monday night in connection with the threats against the physician. Police said all of them are associates of jailed criminal David Emon.

The arrested men are Kamrul Hasan alias Sagar, 25; Md Riku, 25; Md Tarikul Islam alias Rohit, 20; Ahmadullah alias Masum Member, 40; Ahmad Reza Shakil, 25; Md Manik, 40; and Nurul Alam.

SP Masud Alam said the suspects had been using foreign numbers to demand extortion from various individuals and businesses while posing as criminals including Rayhan and Bara Sazzad and threatening them. They also threatened physician Parvez. Police recovered several locally made weapons from their possession.

Police said criminal David Emon was arrested on July 29 while attempting to flee to India via Jashore. Although he is currently in jail, some of his associates have continued demanding extortion by intimidating people.

Preliminary interrogation revealed that the seven usually demand extortion at the direction of Bara Sazzad or Rayhan. However, they also often use the names of Bara Sazzad or Rayhan to demand money without their knowledge.