2 former BCL leaders held over extortion

Police arrested two former Chhatra League leaders yesterday on extortion charges after a case was filed against them and 13 BCL leaders and activists of Dhaka College unit with New Market Police Station.

The complainant of the case, Mehedi Hasan Ayon, is an employee of a private company.

The arrestees are -- Jany Hasan, a former assistant secretary, and SM Shafiq, ex-deputy sports secretary of BCL's central unit.

According to the case statement, on May 25, the accused held another employee of the company hostage and asked Mehedi to come and get him. When he went to the hostel room where his colleague was held captive, the accused demanded Tk 3 lakh from Mehedi.

When he refused to give them any money, they beat him.

Contacted, Shafiqul Gani Shabu, officer-in-charge of New Market Police Station, said, "We arrested two men over extortion charges and sent them to court. We are currently on the lookout to arrest the other accused in the case.

"We will take stern action against them after investigating the allegations. We urged the law enforcing agencies to take legal action against them immediately," said Sheikh Wali Asif Enan, BCL general secretary.

Prof Mohammed Yousuf, principal of Dhaka College, said they will cooperate with law enforcers in this regard.