The biggest criminals on an extortion spree

In November last year, a contractor had secured demolition work of a seven-story building in Dhaka’s Madhubagh area of ​​Moghbazar at a cost of Tk 16.5 lakh.

Shortly after the deal was finalized, details of the project were allegedly leaked to local gangs, including associates of notorious criminal Subrata Bain.

According to the contractor, the gangsters reached the site and demanded Tk 3 lakh to allow the work to continue. The contractor initially paid Tk 100,000 each to the two gangs to resume work.

Sources claimed that one of the gangs operates under the leadership of a top criminal currently based in Dubai.

“We have been involved in construction projects in Dhaka for over a decade. While paying for extortion is nothing new, the amounts demanded recently are unprecedented. The situation has worsened over the last few months with excessive sums being demanded on behalf of top criminals,” the contractor told The Daily Star, requesting anonymity.

“We even had to abandon the Bhashantek project due to similar extortion threats,” he added.

However, a close associate of Subrata Bain denied his involvement in the Madhubagh extortion incident.

In an anonymous conversation with The Daily Star, he said: “Dada (Subrata) is not involved in any extortion. Other gangs use his name.”

Mohammad Razu, commander of Hatirjheel police station, said they had not received any information about Subrata’s involvement in the extortion. “If evidence emerges, we will take necessary legal action,” he said.

Subrata’s whereabouts are unknown, but police sources say he was in Bangladesh.

With a large number of similar incidents reported in recent months, a climate of fear has gripped many businesses in Dhaka. Contractors in the construction sector are being threatened to pay or stop working, while entrepreneurs in other sectors are being targeted for kidnapping or attack. Police officials and victims say the release of some top criminals after last year’s political change has heightened fears.

In December, another contractor was awarded a contract worth Tk 15 lakh to demolish two three-story and one two-story building of a government primary school in Bhashantek.

However, on the first day, work stalled as members of a gang led by Abbas Ali, known in police records as ‘Abbas killer’, allegedly demanded Tk 3 lakh.

An associate of the contractor said: “We barely make any money selling scrap metal such as bars and bricks. We offered Tk 1.5 lakh but the gang refused to give us work. We can’t even file a complaint because of the death threats.”

Several school employees, who asked to remain anonymous, confirmed that at the end of November a tender was announced for the demolition of the buildings and the construction of a new six-story complex, but the work did not start due to threats from criminals.

Foysal Ahmed, chief executive officer of Bhashantek police station, said no complaint had been filed in connection with the incident. “We will send a police team to investigate the incident and take necessary action.”

Local sources revealed that Abbas left the country for Nepal shortly after being released on bail on August 13.

Despite his absence, his gang is reportedly continuing with extortion in Mirpur-10, Bhashantek and Kafrul.

In January last year, the businessman bought a six-figure plot in Dhanmondi. Shortly thereafter, an anonymous caller claiming to be a member of top criminal Sanjidul Hassan Emon’s gang demanded a meeting in the capital Mohammadpur.

When the businessman went there, he was allegedly abducted, blindfolded and taken to a building where the man demanded a ransom of Tk 10 lakh and gave him a three-day deadline.

The businessman, fearing for his safety, paid the amount. In December, the Emon gang allegedly demanded an additional Tk 10 lakh.

“I don’t know how to continue my business in the face of constant threats,” the businessman said.

Emon was released from prison on bail on August 15 last year.

In the latest such incident, a case has been registered against Emon and nine of his associates at New Market Police Station in connection with the attack on two computer dealers on Elephant Road on Friday evening.

The victims are Wahedul Hasan Dipu, president of Elephant Road Computer Baboshayee Kallyan Samity (ECS) and Ehteshamul Haque, joint general secretary of Multiplan store owners association. They were attacked by a group of about 20 attackers armed with machetes in front of the Multiplan Center.

Wahedul, who was elected ECS chairman on December 28, told The Daily Star that a few days before the elections, he received a call from someone who identified himself as Chanchal.

“During the conversation, another man who introduced himself as Emon joined the conversation and demanded a monthly payment from me, but I refused,” he said, adding that he hung up the phone without engaging in further conversation.

Wahedul is the elder brother of Imamul Hasan Helal alias Pichchi Helal, a top criminal whose gang operates mainly in Mohammadpur.

Helal was included by the police on the list of 23 biggest criminals in 2001. On January 12, 2000, Helal, then a Chhatra Dal leader, was arrested.

He was released on bail on August 16 last year.

Sources say that the Helala gang is currently attacking construction projects in Mohammadpur and Agargaon.

On September 21 last year, a murder case was lodged against Helal at the Mohammadpur police station.

Hafizur Rahman, inspector (investigation), police station, said, “We have filed several extortion cases in recent months. We investigate complaints regardless of who is involved.”

Referring to Helal, Hafizur said, “We are carrying out operations to arrest him, but his whereabouts remain unknown.”

Since December last year, the gas line contractor has been receiving threatening calls demanding an amount of Tk 3 lakh in the name of master criminal Arman.

“Within a month, about eight contractors and employees received the same type of threats. Some have already made payments. I spend my days in fear because they are threatening to kidnap my children because I have not paid yet,” the contractor said. newspapers, asking for anonymity.

Golam Azam, superintendent of police station Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, said he has not received any such complaints yet. He suggested that victims file complaints with the police.

Police sources said that while top and known criminals were operating, some fraudster gangs were threatening people with extortion using the names of criminals.

Sources say evidence shows that such fraud gangs have also operated in the past.

Asked whether top criminals had engaged in extortion after being released from prison, SN Nazrul Islam, additional commissioner (crime and operations) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, told The Daily Star: “No matter who the criminals are, if someone is found involved in criminal activities, lawful action will be taken against them.”

“The police are aware and have increased vigilance. We are carrying out actions to arrest the perpetrators,” he added.