Extortion at former female MP's house: 5 workers of 'anti-discrimination' organization arrested

Police have arrested five people in connection with an extortion case at the house of former MP for the reserved women's seat Shammi Ahmed in the capital's Gulshan. They were arrested from the house located on Road No. 83 in Gulshan-2 on Saturday (July 26). Among those arrested are Md. Siam, Sadman Sadab, Md. Aminul Islam, Ibrahim Hossain and anti-discrimination student movement leader Abdur Razzak Riyad. The arrested Riyad is the convener of Sammilit Private University and a member of the Bangladesh Democratic Students' Union, according to the police.

Gulshan Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md. Hafizur Rahman said that the five people were caught red-handed during the extortion. They had previously taken Tk 1 million from the house. When they went to collect the remaining money again on Saturday, the police conducted a raid on a secret tip-off and arrested them.

Ali Ahmed Masud, Assistant Commissioner (AC) of Gulshan Zone of DMP, said that during the initial interrogation, Riyad claimed that when they went to Shammi Ahmed's house four-five days ago, his husband said, "You are like my son, I am doing some entertainment, don't do anything to my wife." Then he gave Riyad five lakh taka. According to Riyad, the joint convener of Bangladesh Democratic Students' Movement, Jane Alam Apu, received that money, who used that money to buy his wife's treatment and a motorcycle.

Sources said that Riyad went to the house on Gulshan-83 Road on the morning of July 17 and demanded a ransom of one crore taka. As per the demand, they took one million taka in the first round. When they tried to take more money in the second round, the police conducted a raid and arrested five people.

A video of the incident went viral on social media, where it can be seen that two young men were receiving a bundle of money in the guest room of Shammi Ahmed's house around 10 am on July 17. A source from Gulshan Police Station confirmed the authenticity of the video.

Police say the entire incident is under investigation. Legal action will be taken in this case after the detainees are questioned.