Three leaders affiliated with the youth and volunteer wings of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) have been sent to jail in Baralekha, Moulvibazar, for allegedly demanding Tk 3,00,000 from a businessman in the name of the army.
The suspects were initially detained during the army operation and later handed over to the Baralekha police station. On Sunday (February 8), the court ordered their transfer to jail.
The accused are Nazmul Islam (46), joint convener of the Baralekha Municipal Jubo Dal, Abu Hanif Zakaria (32), member secretary of the Baralekha Sadar Union Jubo Dal, and Md. Raju Ahmed (27), leader of the Swechchhasebak Dal. All are residents of Gaziteka village.
According to the case file and the victim’s family, on February 2, an army team searched Jahangir Alam’s house but left without finding him. The next day, the accused met Jahangir and claimed that they could “settlement” the matter with the army in exchange for money.
They reportedly demanded Rs 300,000 and threatened dire consequences if the money was not paid. On February 4 and 5, the suspects allegedly pressured the victim’s brother through a WhatsApp group call, after which they agreed to reduce the amount to Rs 250,000.
Sensing wrongdoing, the victim’s brother recorded the conversation and informed the local army camp. After verifying the complaint, the army conducted a raid and arrested the 3 suspects and handed them over to the police.
On Sunday, the victim’s brother Salman Hossain filed a case at the Barolekha police station.
Officer-in-Charge Moniruzzaman Khan confirmed that the 3 accused were produced before the court and later sent to jail.