Two ex-ADSM coordinators, four others charged in extortion case

The Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) has submitted a charge sheet against six people, including former coordinators of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement Abdur Razzak alias Riyad and Jane Alam Apu, in a case filed over extortion at the Gulshan residence of former reserved-seat lawmaker Shammi Ahmed.

Investigating Officer Firoz Ahmed Munshi recently submitted the charge sheet to the court and confirmed the information to the Daily Sun on Tuesday. 

A hearing on the charge sheet is scheduled for 10 November at the Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court, a court source said.

According to the charge sheet, the other accused are Sakadoun Siam, Sadman Sadab and Ibrahim Hossain.

The charge sheet also states that the allegations against a minor accused were substantiated. As he was a minor at the time of the incident, the investigating officer recommended that he be tried separately before a juvenile court.

Among the accused, Riyad and Apu made confessional statements before the court under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, admitting to receiving the extortion money.

In his confessional statement, Riyad reportedly apologised, saying that he came from a poor family and could not resist the temptation of money.

Apu also admitted to receiving the money. He said that after collecting Tk10 lakh, they went to Riyad’s residence in Badda and divided the amount equally. He said he bought a motorcycle for Tk3.07 lakh from his share and used part of the remaining money to repay his debts.

On 27 July 2025, the case was filed with Gulshan Police Station by Siddique Abu Zafar, 75, husband of former reserved-seat MP Shammi Ahmed over allegations of extortion.

Sub-Inspector Mokhlesur Rahman of the police station initially investigated the case before the PBI took over the investigation.

According to the case statement, on the morning of 17 July 2025, Abdur Razzak alias Riyad and Kazi Gaurab Apu alias Jane Alam Apu went to the complainant’s residence in Gulshan and demanded Tk50 lakh.

When the complainant refused to pay, they allegedly branded him an Awami League associate and threatened to have him arrested through police intervention, which compelled Zafar to pay them Tk10 lakh.

Zafar also alleged that the accused later returned to his residence and knocked forcefully on his apartment door but fled after he informed the police.

The complaint further stated that Riyad, along with the other accused, again went to the complainant’s residence. The security guard informed Zafar of their presence.

The accused demanded the remaining Tk40 lakh and threatened to hand him over to the police if he failed to pay. However, five of them were arrested on the spot after Zafar alerted the police.