‘Zero Tolerance’ to Curb Extortion

Attempts to seize property, attacks by armed men, vandalism and looting have taken place at four locations in the capital within three days. On Saturday night, the studio of content creator Salman Muqtadir, a relative of top criminal Sweden Aslam, was attacked and vandalised. Earlier that day, an attempt was made to seize 35 kathas of land at Chand Udyan Housing in Mohammadpur, while armed men attacked an eight-storey building at Shyamoli Housing in Adabor and attempted to seize it. The previous night, the Radda MCH-FP Centre in Mirpur was attacked, looted and demolished allegedly at the instigation of an MP from a reserved seat.

The incidents have triggered widespread discussion on social media. Against this backdrop, Jamaat has launched a campaign to portray the ruling BNP as an “extortionist” party ahead of the upcoming local elections. BNP policymakers are therefore considering a “zero tolerance policy” to curb such incidents and maintain law and order.

Prime Minister’s Adviser Mahdi Amin said the government was taking a firm stance on maintaining law and order. After returning from the UN General Assembly, he told reporters at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on September 27, “If anyone commits wrongdoing by invoking the government’s name, legal action will be taken against them. The Home Ministry is active on this matter, and no one will be spared. The law will take its own course.”

However, NCP Convener and Chief Whip of the opposition in parliament Nahid Islam said it was impossible to improve the law-and-order situation while Salahuddin Ahmed remained home minister. “The home minister has already failed to perform his duties. If the law-and-order situation is to be restored quickly, it cannot be done while this home minister remains in charge. There is a kind of anarchy across the country. It seems as if there are no law enforcement agencies. This situation has arisen because of the home minister’s failure,” he said.

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) recently warned that the failure to control land grabbing and extortion in Dhaka and elsewhere was an “ominous sign” for those in power and advised them to take corrective measures. Taking TIB’s concerns seriously, the government is considering a firm stance on maintaining law and order and curbing the alleged reckless activities of some party leaders.

Earlier, Prime Minister’s Political Adviser and Dhaka-8 MP Mirza Abbas said the good works of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman were being “destroyed because of the bad deeds of some bad people in the party.” He also warned of conspiracies within the party and urged the prime minister to remain cautious about leaders who speak well in his presence but behave differently outside.

The government has adopted “zero tolerance” policies at different times to maintain law and order and control dishonest activities. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman deployed the army on April 24, 1974, to curb smuggling, recover illegal weapons and suppress anti-social elements. During Ziaur Rahman’s tenure, a 12,500-member specialised police force was formed to maintain law and order and deal with internal sabotage. The 2001-2006 government led by Khaleda Zia conducted “Operation Clean Heart,” while the interim government led by Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus launched “Operation Devil Hunt” on February 8, 2025.

Experts have advised the government to adopt a similar zero-tolerance policy against extortion and other criminal activities by grassroots-level party leaders. They said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman was taking timely steps to revive the economy and attract foreign investment, but terrorism and extortion could undermine those efforts.

BNP leaders said they had endured persecution, imprisonment and other hardships for years under the previous regime. After the BNP came to power following the 2024 regime change and the February 12 election, however, some party leaders and activists have allegedly become involved in land grabbing and extortion.

Local government elections will begin in three months, with union parishad elections to be followed by upazila, municipality, zila parishad and city corporation polls. Jamaat is the BNP’s main rival in the upcoming local elections and is seeking to capitalise on allegations against BNP leaders and activists.

Most ministers and MPs, however, appear preoccupied with enjoying power and privileges and have little contact with grassroots leaders and activists who endured years of persecution. As a result, some party activists are seeking financial benefits in their own ways, allegedly tarnishing the party’s image.

In particular, whenever Prime Minister Tarique Rahman travels abroad, responsible ministers become preoccupied with themselves, resulting in an increase in attempts to seize property, attacks by armed men, vandalism and looting. Taking advantage of this, Jamaat has deployed a “bot army” on social media to associate the ruling BNP with extortion.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has announced Tk 50 lakh for the reconstruction and renovation of the Radda MCH-FP Centre, also known as Radda Clinic, in Mirpur-1. It has also taken a strong position in support of content creator Salman Muqtadir following the attack related to a land dispute.

Kishoreganj-4 MP, BNP Chairman’s Adviser and freedom fighter Advocate Md Fazlur Rahman warned BNP ministers, saying, “You can trust a snake, but you cannot trust Jamaat-e-Islami. If a snake and Jamaat come at the same time, beware of Jamaat first and then kill the snake.”

Jamaat and NCP have been conducting extensive campaigns on social media over the recent incidents, seeking to associate the BNP with extortion and land grabbing. Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed blamed one incident on a land dispute and another on the inactivity of law enforcement agencies.

TIB expressed concern over the incidents, calling the situation an “ominous sign” for the BNP government. Former interim government adviser Dr Asif Nazrul said, “These serious crimes are a clear wake-up call for the government. The government must take firm action regardless of which party the perpetrators belong to, and it must do so now.”

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman held 11 bilateral meetings with world leaders during his four-day visit to New York for the UN General Assembly, including the leaders of Turkey, Iran and Pakistan. The meetings are expected to open new possibilities for Bangladesh’s development.

While the prime minister was abroad, around two dozen ministers and state ministers remained in the country. Law enforcement agencies operate under government orders, yet a series of criminal incidents occurred in Dhaka during his absence.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is making every effort to attract foreign investment by strengthening relations with influential countries and encouraging their business communities to invest in Bangladesh. To make the “Bangladesh First” slogan effective, strict action must be taken against party members facing allegations of land grabbing, looting and extortion.

Otherwise, the prime minister’s achievements may be undermined. A cleansing drive must be conducted within the party, and action should be taken against leaders, regardless of their position or influence, who face such allegations.

TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman said the BNP must take effective corrective measures in line with its electoral commitment to fight corruption. Otherwise, he warned, it may lose the opportunity to control land grabbing and extortion in the future.

He also called for proper investigations into each incident and exemplary punishment for those found responsible.