In the Kashabhog area of Shariatpur municipality, some local extortionists are accused of demanding Tk 2 lakh from a day laborer during this corona pandemic. The extortionists attacked and vandalised his house after he could not pay the money. A complaint has been filed to the police from the victim's family regarding the incident.
According to local and complaint sources, Shamsul Haque Chowkidar, Mostafa Chowkidar, Ahmed Chowkidar, Zakir Chowkidar, Monir Chowkidar and Ismail Chowkidar are involved in crimes including murder, rape, extortion, land grabbing etc. In the area. They have no other legitimate source of income except extortion.
These extortionists attacked the houses and family members of those to whom they demanded money, if the required amount of money is not received. Idris Chowkidar, the plaintiff in the case said, “The extortionists demanded Tk 2 lakh from me on March 20. As I could not pay the dues, on March 27, Mostafa Chowkidar and his men verbally abused and beat me near Kashavog mosque in Angaria Bagdi Bazar area.
Later, through the mediation of the local elders, we tried to solve the problem with the extortionists. The extortionists said in the presence of the elders that they would not demand any more money from me. Later, the extortionists became active again and they started threatening me again for money”.
“The extortionists threatened to harm me if I refused to pay. On the morning of April 18, the extortionists carrying sharp local weapons like ‘Ramda', ‘Teto' and sticks came to my house and called me outside. Out of fear I ran away through the backside. When they did not find me, the extortionists vandalised my house. This caused me a loss of almost Tk one lakh. At this time they took away Tk 27 thousand from under the bed of my house”, he added.
When Irani Mallick, the leader of Sadar Upazila Women's Awami League unit, stood by the victims, the extortionists blocked the road in front of her house. Later, police came and removed the blockade.
Accused Ahmed Chowkidar said, “The allegations against me were false and baseless. They are trying to trap us by vandalizing their houses themselves. The allegations that we have been accused of are false and fabricated. Police arrested two of us, then released me after learning the exact facts”.
Palang Police Station Officer-in-Charge Ashraful Islam said action would be taken after investigating the complaint of extortion. Initially the allegation seems baseless.
