4 arrested for extorting ex-MP Shammi while posing as SAD coordinators; Police seek 10-day remand
According to police, the arrests took place on Saturday night (26 July) when the suspects allegedly returned to Shammi Ahmed’s home to collect the remainder of the extorted funds
Police have sought a 10-day remand for four student leaders—three claiming to be coordinators of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement and one from the Democratic Student Council—accused of attempting to extort Tk50 lakh from Shammi Ahmed, a former Awami League MP from a women's reserved seat, at her residence in Dhaka's Gulshan.
The remand plea was submitted today (27 July) by Inspector Mokhlesur Rahman of Gulshan Police Station. The hearing is scheduled to be held before Dhaka's Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Md Ziadur Rahman.
Among the accused is Md Aminul Islam, who is reportedly a minor. A separate petition has been filed requesting his placement in a juvenile correctional facility.
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The four arrested are Ibrahim Hossain Munna, Dhaka Metropolitan convenor of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement; members Md Sakadaun Siam and Sadab; and Abdur Razzak Riyad, a central committee member of the Democratic Student Council.
Both student organisations have since expelled them.
According to police, the arrests took place on Saturday night (26 July) when the suspects allegedly returned to Shammi Ahmed's home to collect the remainder of the extorted funds.
The case statement details that on 17 July, Abdur Razzak Riyad and an associate, Kazi Gaurab Opu, visited Shammi Ahmed's Gulshan-2 residence and demanded Tk50 lakh in cash, along with gold ornaments. At the time, Shammi's husband, Siddique Abu Zafar, was present and allegedly coerced into handing over Tk10 lakh under threat.
The suspects reportedly warned that failure to comply would result in Zafar's arrest, branding him a supporter of autocracy and an associate of the ruling party. They returned again on 19 July, reiterating their threats and demanding the remaining Tk40 lakh.
When the accused returned on 26 July to collect the balance, police—acting on prior intelligence—detained four of them at the scene. However, Kazi Gaurab Opu reportedly fled the premises and remains at large.
Following the incident, Zafar filed a formal complaint at Gulshan Police Station, naming six individuals in the extortion case. Investigations are ongoing.
