BNP leader accused of demanding Tk3 lakh in extortion, taking contractor’s motorcycle

A local BNP leader and three others have allegedly demanded Tk3 lakh in extortion money from a road construction contractor in Barishal, assaulted him for refusing to pay and taken away his motorcycle.

Contractor Md Rustom Hawlader, 48, filed a written complaint naming the four accused with Airport Police Station of Barishal Metropolitan Police yesterday (8 November).

According to the complaint, the incident took place around 7:30pm on Saturday (7 November) near Badla Primary School in Ward No 2 of Madhabpasha Union under Babuganj upazila.

The accused are Md Mahbub Molla, 45, Md Sakib Hawlader, 35, Md Sojib Hawlader, 25, and Md Mubin Molla, 22. All four are residents of Madhabpasha union. Mahbub Molla, the prime accused, is the general secretary of Ward No. 3 BNP in the union.

Rustom Hawlader is working as a subcontractor on a 2,600-metre bitumen-paved road construction project connecting Bypass and Hadibaskathi in Madhabpasha union, under Airport Police Station.

According to the complaint, the accused obstructed the construction work when Rustom was heading towards a field near Badla Primary School on Saturday evening. They allegedly demanded Tk3 lakh from him to allow the work to continue.

When he refused to pay, the accused allegedly verbally abused and threatened him before assaulting him. His son and others accompanying him were also allegedly beaten and intimidated.

The accused then took away his Discover motorcycle, which was valued at approximately Tk1.1 lakh, the complaint said.

Rustom Hawlader alleged that Mahbub Molla had demanded Tk3 lakh from him and arranged for him to be assaulted when he refused to pay.

“The accused exert influence in the area and are involved in various misdeeds. I demand a proper investigation into this incident and legal action against them,” he said.

Contacted over the allegations, Mahbub Molla admitted taking the motorcycle but denied that it was linked to an extortion demand.

“I am owed money by Rustom. I am a partner in that road’s work. Since he was unwilling to pay the dues, I brought the motorcycle and kept it with myself,” he said.

Asked whether taking someone’s motorcycle to recover outstanding dues was legal, Mahbub said senior BNP leaders would sit down and resolve the matter.

Airport Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Rafiqul Islam said they had received a written complaint alleging that the contractor’s motorcycle was taken after he refused to pay extortion money.

“If the allegations are found to be true after investigation, legal action will be taken,” he said.