Student leader among 5 held for extortion at ex-MP’s home

Arrest

Dhaka, July 26: Police detained five individuals, including leader of student groups, on charges of extortion after they allegedly demanded Tk 50 lakh from former reserved seat lawmaker Shammi Ahmed at her residence in Gulshan.

They were detained from a flat on Road No. 83 in Gulshan on Saturday evening, said Hafizur Rahman, officer-in-charge (OC) of Gulshan Police Station.

Among those detained is Riyad, a leader of the Dhaka Metropolitan unit of Students Against Discrimination (SAD), police said. The identities of the other detainees are yet to be verified.

According to OC Hafizur Rahman, Riyad and his associates first visited Shammi Ahmed’s residence on July 17 and demanded Tk 50 lakh. They allegedly took Tk 10 lakh on that day and returned on Saturday to collect the remaining amount.

“They were apprehended at the scene during their second visit. Legal proceedings are currently underway,” said the OC.

Police are also investigating whether others were involved in the incident. However, no formal complaint or case had been filed as of Saturday night, the OC added. - UNB