Allegations of extortion from sand-laden boats in Hardinge Bridge area

There have been allegations of extortion from sand-laden boats of legal lessees in the Padmanadhi area of ​​Hardinge Bridge area of ​​Kushtia. In this incident, an official of the legal lessee organization has filed a complaint against Zakaria Pintu of Ishwardi, his brother Mehedi Hasan, and Awami League leader Sayeed Khan of Bheramara.

Sohel Khandaker, assistant director of ‘Group on Services Private Limited’ and proprietor of Khandaker Traders, made these allegations at a press conference in Bheramara, Kushtia, on Saturday (October 4) night. He said that the organization has been extracting sand from the Paturia-Rajshahi waterway of the Padmanadhi as a legal lessee approved by the government.

Sohel Khandaker alleged, “Since receiving the lease, Zakaria Pintu of Ishwardi, his brother Mehedi Hasan, and Awami League leader Sayeed Khan of Bheramara have been demanding extortion regularly. Our boat owners and boatmen are being threatened every day. On Saturday afternoon, in the presence of SI Monir and SI Shamim of the Naval Police, Pintu’s terrorist group beat up the boatmen for not paying the extortion.”

He further said that the boat owner, Saidul Sardar of Paschim Bahirchar village, and boatmen Said Sheikh and Nayeb Ali were seriously injured in the attack. Later, locals rescued them and admitted them to the Bheramara Upazila Health Complex.

Sohel Khandaker alleged at the press conference, “Although the matter was reported to Naval Police OC Khandaker Shafiqul Islam, he did not take any action. Rather, it seems that the police administration is taking a stand in favor of the accused. I fear that they are conspiring to kill me.”

He demanded a fair investigation into the incident and the prosecution of the accused.

Attempts were made to contact Zakaria Pintu regarding this matter, but he did not answer the phone.

On the other hand, the Laxmikunda outpost's in-charge, Khandaker Shafiqul Islam, refused to speak to journalists and did not provide a clear explanation about the incident.