AL leader Mozammel Haque acquitted in extortion case

BM Mozammel Haque, former Shariatpur-1 lawmaker and Awami League organising secretary, has been acquitted in a case filed over a Tk25 lakh extortion demand.

Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge Court-14 Judge Mahamuda Akter gave the verdict this morning (5 April), confirmed Mozammel's lawyer Md Liton Mia. He said the judge acquitted him as the complainant had no objection.

Earlier, on 1 April, the complainant and the accused reached a settlement. The court recorded the complainant's statement that day and set today's date for the verdict.

According to the case statement, ahead of the 2015 national election, Mozammel allegedly summoned victim Khalilur Rahman to an office in Dhanmondi through Awami League and Chhatra League activists. He allegedly demanded Tk25 lakh from him as election expenses.

The victim was reportedly given three days to pay the money and was threatened with enforced disappearance if he failed to comply. 

It was also alleged that during the subsequent election, the accused used threats and complaints through a business association in Shariatpur to force the businessman to shut down his business.

Ten years after the incident, the complainant filed a case with the court.

On 5 October last year, Mozammel Haque was arrested in Niketan of the capital by the Dhaka Metropolitan Police's Detective Branch. He has been in jail since then.