Suspended BNP leader and journalist accused in complaint filed by wife
A businessman in Abhaynagar upazila of Jashore was allegedly held at gunpoint, partially buried in sand, and extorted of Tk 4 crore in multiple phases allegedly by a suspended BNP leader and a local journalist.
The victim, Shahnewaz Kabir, alias Tipu, 48, is the owner of Jafridi Enterprise in the Nawapara Bazar area.
The victim's wife, Asma Khatun, filed a written complaint with Rajghat Army Camp in Abhaynagar in this regard on July 31, confirmed Lance Corporal Nadim Mahmud of the army camp.
The trader, along with his family, have fled the area over their safety.
In the complaint, the woman alleged that on the morning of September 2 last year, a man named Saikat Hossain, alias Hira, took Kabir to the personal office of one Asaduzzaman Jony, the suspended organising secretary of Nawapara municipal unit of BNP.
There, Jony beat him up and at gunpoint, demanded Tk 2 crore. Asma later transferred the money to Jony's company account, following which her husband was released, it said.
As per the complaint, on September 18 last year, Kabir was intercepted by Saikat on his way to Nawapara Bazar from Chalisia on a motorcycle. Kabir's phone was found switched off until 3:00pm that day. Later, it was learned that he had been taken to Kona Eco Park, allegedly controlled by Jony.
Asma, in the complaint, said when she arrived at the park, she too was attacked at gunpoint by Jony, Samrat Hossain, and Nawapara Press Club General Secretary Mofiz Uddin.
She further alleged that the attackers dug a pit and buried her husband up to his chest in sand, and demanded another Tk 2 crore.
Kabir was forced to call his business manager and ask him to arrange the money. Subsequently, Tk 68 lakh was transferred from Pubali Bank and Tk 32 lakh from SBAC Bank to a bank account belonging to journalist Mofiz. Additionally, Mofiz allegedly coerced a cheque worth Tk 1 crore from them. The businessman was later released with death threats if he revealed the information to anyone, said the complaint.
Talking to The Daily Star, Asma Khatun said, "Asaduzzaman Jony and journalist Mofiz, along with others, extorted a total of Tk 4 crore from my husband at gunpoint on multiple occasions. My husband fled the area out of fear. Our business is nearly shut down. We are left with nothing. We are completely devastated. I want justice. I filed a complaint with the police station today."
The Daily Star tried to call Asaduzzaman Jony over phone multiple times for comments but his phone was found switched off.
Contacted, journalist Mofiz Uddin said, "I am not the person you are looking for. I am not in a position to talk," and hung up the phone.
Abhaynagar Police Station OC Abdul Alim said the victim's wife filed a complaint this morning. "We will take necessary action after the investigation."
Lance Corporal Nadim Mahmud of the army camp said, "We have received the complaint. An investigation is underway."
