Dhaka, August 1:
In a significant development, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) on Friday arrested Jane Alam alias Apu, a former joint convener of the Bangladesh Democratic Students Union, in connection with an extortion case involving the residence of former Member of Parliament Shammi Ahmed.
Alam was apprehended by the Detective Branch from the Wari area of the capital, days after he allegedly collected extortion money from the Gulshan residence of the former MP. Confirming the arrest, Muhammad Talebur Rahman, Commissioner of the DMP’s Media and Public Relations Department, stated that authorities had been monitoring Alam’s involvement in the case, where he falsely posed as a ‘coordinator’ of the anti-discrimination student movement.
According to reports in Bangladesh’s leading daily, Prothom Alo, the extortion scheme involved multiple individuals claiming to represent student movements. Last month, expelled leader Abdur Razzak bin Solaiman and several others allegedly visited Shammi Ahmed’s home in Gulshan and demanded a ransom of Taka 50 lakh. They reportedly issued threats to her husband, Siddiqui Abu Zafar, during the visit.
On Saturday night, five people, including Razzak, were arrested while attempting to collect the remaining ransom amount. The others detained were identified as Ibrahim Hossain alias Munna, Sakadaun Siam, Sadman Sadab, and a minor, whose identity remains undisclosed due to legal protections. The minor was sent to the Tongi Youth Development Centre.
Following a police complaint filed by Siddiqui, the Gulshan police station registered a case against 10-12 unidentified individuals, including Razzak. The arrested individuals were taken into custody on a seven-day remand for interrogation.
Both Alam and Razzak were expelled from the Bangladesh Democratic Students Union’s Central Committee following their alleged involvement in the extortion ring, further tarnishing the image of the student organization.
