UNB:
A case has been filed against former Bagerhat-1 lawmaker Sheikh Helal Uddin and his son, former Bagerhat-2 MP Sheikh Sarhan Naser Tonmoy, along with three others, on charges of allegedly extorting Tk 20 crore from a local businessman.
Abdul Mannan Talukder, managing director of New Bashundhara Real Estate, lodged the case with Bagerhat Model Police Station on Monday.
The other accused in the case are Sheikh Helal’s personal assistant Md Firozul Islam, Tanmoy’s personal assistant MH Shaheen and Sheikh Shahidul Islam.
Among the five accused, police have arrested Md Shahidul Islam, 37, on Monday, said Officer-in-Charge of Bagerhat Model Police Station Mahamudul Hasan.
Quoting the case statement, the OC said the incident dates back to November 15, 2018, when all five accused allegedly went to the office of Abdul Mannan Talukder in Bagerhat town and demanded Tk 200 crore in extortion.
The complainant alleged that the accused threatened to shut down his business, implicate him in false cases, and even kill him if he refused to pay. Out of fear for his safety and business, Mannan said he handed over Tk 7.3 crore from client deposits to the accused that night.
On January 3, 2019, the accused allegedly visited his office again and issued further threats, prompting Mannan to pay an additional Tk 12.7 crore to protect himself and his business.
In total, the accused reportedly extorted Tk 20 crore in two instalments, according to the case statement.
OC Mahamudul Hasan said efforts are underway to arrest the remaining accused.
