Police say the mobile number used to make the calls is now switched off, and they are looking into it with the help of technology.
Islami Front leader Maulana Ilias Noori. Photo: Courtesy
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Islami Front leader Maulana Ilias Noori. Photo: Courtesy
An Islami Front leader in Chattogram’s Raozan has allegedly received death threats over an extortion demand, with an unidentified caller warning that he would be shot wherever he was found unless he sent money through bKash within 15 minutes.
Maulana Ilias Noori, president of Islami Front’s Raozan upazila unit and principal of Betagi Rahmania Madrasa in Rangunia, has filed a written complaint with police.
According to the complaint, Ilias received a call on his mobile from an unidentified number yesterday (12 November). The caller demanded money using the name of a top local criminal and told him to send it to a bKash number within 15 minutes. He threatened to shoot and kill him if he failed to comply.
Around 10 minutes after the first call, the same number called again to ask whether he had sent the money. Urging him to pay quickly, the caller said he had called again to save him, and that he would be killed if he did not pay, according to the complaint.
Ilias said he was in a mosque when he received the first call.
The caller did not specify the amount, concealed his identity, and demanded money using the name of a local criminal, he said.
Speaking to The Business Standard, Ilias said, “He [the caller] told me to pay extortion money to keep the gang running; otherwise he would shoot me wherever he found me. He swore that I would be killed if I did not pay. I have filed a written complaint with the police. I hope they investigate the matter and take action.”
Saiful Islam, officer-in-charge (OC) of Raozan Police Station, confirmed receiving the complaint and said action would be taken after an investigation.
Mohammad Belayet Hossain, assistant superintendent of police (Raozan-Rangunia Circle) of Chattogram district police, told TBS that the complaint did not specify the amount demanded. But Ilias has verbally told police that a large sum was demanded.
The number used to make the calls is currently switched off, and police are looking into it with the help of information technology, he said.
He also said although Ilias has submitted a written complaint, he has not provided police with any recording of the phone conversations.
Ilias Noori contested the 13th parliamentary election from Chattogram-6 (Raozan) with the candle symbol but was defeated by the BNP candidate.
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