Three accused remanded for extortion posing as DGFI members

A Dhaka court on Saturday placed three accused on three-day remand in a case filed over allegations of extorting money in the capital’s Uttara East area while posing as members of the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI).

The accused are Md Russell Mahbub alias Masum, 42, Sohel Mirza, 41, and Md Sajib, 36.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Al Biruni Mir passed the order, said prosecution division Sub-Inspector Md Helal Uddin.

Earlier, Uttara East Police Station produced the accused before the court and sought their remand for questioning.

According to police, a patrol team went to the location at around 8am on Friday, following a call to the National Emergency Service 999.

Police said several people, identifying themselves as DGFI members and claiming that a case had been filed against him, intimidated the flat owner, Kaiyum Shahriar Zahedi. They allegedly demanded Tk10 lakh in extortion, saying the money would be used to settle the case.

Fearing them, Zahedi paid them Tk1.59 lakh. Later, suspecting their activities, he called 999 and sought police assistance.

Police subsequently arrived at the scene and found a DGFI identity card in the possession of one of the suspects. As the card raised suspicion, the suspects were questioned and reportedly admitted to extorting money while posing as DGFI members, police said.

Police also recovered a fake DGFI identity card, a motorcycle, Tk1.59 lakh in cash, a walkie-talkie and a pair of handcuffs from their possession. A regular case has been filed with Uttara East Police Station in connection with the incident.