Detectives arrested an expelled leader of Bangladesh Gonotantrik Chhatra Sangsad in connection with a recent extortion case involving the family of former Awami League lawmaker Shammi Ahmed at Gulshan in the capital.
Jane Alam Apu, joint convenor of the student organisation, was arrested from the capital's Wari area on Thursday night, said Talebur Rahman, deputy commissioner (media) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police.
Apu was expelled from the organisation on July 26 after the extortion allegations against him surfaced.
According to law enforcement officials, Apu and Abdur Razzak Riyad, an expelled leader of Students Against Discrimination (SAD), allegedly had been leading the extortion racket.The group reportedly demanded Tk 50 lakh from the family of the former lawmaker and had already collected Tk 10 lakh before the matter came to light.
In the case filed by Shammi Ahmed's husband, Siddique Abu Zafar, he stated that on July 17, several individuals identifying themselves as SAD members, arrived at their Gulshan residence and demanded the money. As Shammi was not home, the demand was made to Zafar.
"When I refused to pay, they labelled me an Awami League associate and continued to pressure me. Eventually, I paid Tk 10 lakh to Riyad," Zafar said in his statement.
