Extortion Demand: BCL men stops construction of model mosque

A group of Chhatra League men have allegedly stopped construction works of a model mosque-cum-Islamic cultural centre for not getting extortion from the contractor in Tetulia upazila of Panchagarh. 

Nazmul Haque, one of the directors of  Northern Techno Trade, told The Daily Star that Mashfiqur Rahman Sakib, general secretary of Tetulia BCL, had been demanding Tk 20 lakh as “extortion” from him as his firm was awarded the Tk 12 crore project.

The construction works of the three-storey mosque, which is being built in Sahebjoth Dangibosti area as part of the government’s initiative to set up some 560 model mosques across the country, was started in July 20, said Nazmul.

On Thursday, a group of some 15 to 20 BCL leaders led by Sakib stormed into the project site and vandalised a number of makeshift residences of the staffers, Nazmul said, adding that they warned him not to begin the works until their demand was met.

The incident took place in front of project engineers Shafi Mandal and Nazmul Haque, the contractor said. 

Contacted, Shafi confirmed the incident occurred and said he had informed his higher authorities of the matter.

They also assaulted Nazmul on the spot and snatched keys of his car, Shafi said. 

The keys were recovered on Thursday afternoon and handed over to Nazmul, said Johorul Islam, officer-in-charge of Tetulia Police Station, adding that no case was filed yet in this connection.

Sakib, however, denied the allegation of extortion and said they had only asked for a sub-contract for supplying sand and stone required for the project.