2 ex-BCL men beaten over extortion attempt

Two former BCL leaders of Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur (BRUR) were beaten by some construction workers on the campus on Monday night for allegedly demanding extortion money from the manager of a construction firm.

They are Hadiuzzaman Hadi, former vice president of BCL unit of BRUR, and Imtiaz Basunia, former BCL president of Shaheed Sheikh Muktar Elahi dormitory of the university.

BRUR is constructing a 10-storey building spending Tk 26 crore, according to the university authorities.

On Monday night, the duo went to the site and demanded Tk 20,000 from Abdul Latif, manager of the firm. As he refused to pay, they tried to assault him, said Latif. “The sub-contractor of the company was also present there and witnessed it.”

“The workers thought they were goons and beat them up,” he said.

Later, the two were taken to Rangpur Medical College Hospital.

Contacted, Imtiaz said they went there to inquire about the construction work. “But the workers suddenly swooped on us.”

ABM Zahidul Islam, officer-in-charge of Rangpur Sadar Police Station, said that he had heard about an incident on the campus were two persons were attacked over demanding extortion money. But, no case has been filed yet, he said.

Meanwhile, the university authorities formed a three-member probe committee led by Assistant Proctor Ruhul Amin. The committee was asked to submit a report within three working days.