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Tuesday | November 10, 2026 | Dhaka

Extortion in supermarket

 New Nation
 Published: 12:00 AM, 30 August 2015

Staff Reporter :
Some 2000 shop owners of Rajdhani and New Rajdhani Super Markets in city’s Tikatuli area are being tortured physically by a gang of extortionists with supports from Ward Number-39 Councillor Moynal Haque Manzu.
This was alleged by Mohammad Shakhawat Hossain, a shop owner of the super market while addressing a press conference at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity (DRU) on Saturday.
On behalf of around 2000 shopkeepers of the markets he has sought Prime Minister’s intervention to protect them from extortion and repression by the extortionists.
He said Ward Councillor Moynal Haque Manzu, grabbing the post of president of Rajdhani Super Market Committee, has been extorting toll from both the markets for the last four years through his armed goons.
 “If any shop owner refuses to pay his gang, he is taken to Manzu’s office and tortured physically there. And his shop is shut down by the thugs,” Shakhawat Hossain alleged.
He also sought cooperation from the Home Minister, Inspector General of Police and Director General of Rapid Action Battalion to save their lives and business as well.
Seeking security of lives and property, the shop owners have lodged a general diary (GD) against Moynal Haque Manzu with Wari Police Station, Shakhawat Hossain said.
Being received death threat, the traders said, many of them have remained silent and continued to pay the toll to the gang due to fear of lives.
 “Our many shop owners keep mum for fear of lives. But now the situation has taken a serious turn as the accomplices of Manzu are taking traders to his office and beat them up indiscriminately if refuse to pay toll,” Shakhawat Hossain said.
He said Manzu along with his accomplices continued to issue threat to pay toll in time otherwise they will have no room in the Super Markets or face the music in many ways.
Earlier on July 8, a special squad of RAB-10 arrested 11 leaders and workers of Awami League, its associate body Juba League and student wing Chhatra League while they were collecting tolls from the traders, he added.