2 Arrested in Savar for Allegedly Extorting Money by Posing as DB Police

Police have arrested two men, including a local leader of the Zia Projonmo Dal and a Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal activist, in connection with an alleged extortion incident in Savar in which the accused reportedly entered a house posing as members of the Detective Branch (DB) of police.

The two were arrested during a police operation in the Bank Colony area of Savar municipality on Wednesday (September 23). Police said four non-judicial stamp papers and a mobile phone were recovered from their possession. They were later sent to court.

The arrested individuals have been identified as Md Ashraful, 23, general secretary of the Savar municipal unit of Zia Projonmo Dal, and Md Russell alias Rohan, 22, who is known locally as a Chhatra Dal activist.

The case was filed by Md Rabbi Khan, 23, a student of a private university in Savar. According to the complaint, five people were named as accused. The other three are Abdullah alias Abullah, 22, Md Hira, 24, and Nazmul, 20. Police said efforts are underway to arrest them.

According to the case statement, Rabbi Khan went to a house in the Kazi Mokmapara area of Savar on the night of September 21 to visit his sick friend Sanjay Mondal. At around 9:15pm, Russell alias Rohan allegedly knocked on the door. A few other people accompanying him then allegedly entered the house while identifying themselves as DB police officers.

The complaint states that the men searched the house and threatened Rabbi and his friends. They allegedly took away their mobile phones and demanded Tk 100,000 from each person.

At one point, Ashraful allegedly displayed a switchblade knife and threatened the victims with death. Four stamp papers were subsequently signed by Rabbi and his friend Rakib Mia, allegedly stating that Tk 250,000 was owed to the accused.

The complaint further states that when Rabbi’s cousin Zakir and his friend Junaid arrived to secure his release, they were also allegedly asked for a large amount of money. The accused allegedly collected Tk 29,000, including Tk 20,000 withdrawn from an ATM and another Tk 9,000 that was already in their possession.

The accused also allegedly took Tk 2,700 from Rabbi’s bKash account and Tk 800 from Sanjay’s Nagad account. Two mobile phones, including one reportedly sent by a relative of Sanjay living abroad, were also allegedly taken.

Following the incident, Rabbi Khan filed a case against five people with Savar Model Police Station. Police said an investigation was conducted and a case was filed after initially finding evidence supporting the allegations.

Local sources have also made various allegations against the accused, including involvement with a juvenile gang, extortion and alleged intimidation of individuals. However, these allegations have not been established by a court and remain subject to investigation.

Savar Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge Saiful Alam said the first and second accused in the case had been arrested and sent to court. He added that police operations were continuing to arrest the remaining accused.