Gulshan extortion attempt: Expelled Gonotantrik Chhatra Sangsad leader Apu arrested

Police have arrested Jane Alam Apu, a key accused in attempting to extort Tk50 lakh from Shammi Ahmed, a former Awami League lawmaker from a women's reserved seat, at her residence in Dhaka's Gulshan.

Apu, who served as the joint convener of the Bangladesh Ganatantrik Chhatra Sangsad, was apprehended by the Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police this morning (1 August).

According to DB Joint Commissioner Mohammad Nasirul Islam, Apu was arrested at around 10am from Dhaka's Wari area.

"After his arrest, he was taken to the DB office on Minto Road for questioning," Nasirul added.

Apu had been on the run following his involvement in the Tk50 lakh extortion attempt. He was expelled from Bangladesh Ganatantrik Chhatra Sangsad on 26 July after the extortion allegations against him surfaced.

On 17 July, a group claiming to represent the Students Against Discrimination Movement went to Shammi Ahmed's house in Gulshan and demanded Tk50 lakh.

The group was allegedly led by Ganatantrik Chhatra Sangsad's joint convener Jane Alam Apu alias Kazi Gaurab Apu and Abdur Razzak Bin Sulaiman alias Riyad.

At the time, Shammi Ahmed was abroad. The group allegedly held her husband, Siddiq Abu Zafar, hostage and threatened him. They allegedly created a tense situation at the house and forcibly collected Tk10 lakh. Of the amount, Apu and Riyad reportedly took Tk5 lakh each.

However, they returned again on 19 July, allegedly reiterating their threats and demanding the remaining Tk40 lakh.

"When their attempt to force the payment failed, they again returned on 26 July with additional accomplices. During this third visit, the resident, Siddique Abu Zafar, called the police for assistance," Talebur Rahman, deputy commissioner (Media and Public Relations) of DMP, during a press briefing this afternoon.

"A police team promptly responded, apprehending five individuals, including Riyad, at the scene. Apu, however, managed to escape that time," he added.

The arrestees were Abdur Razzak Bin Sulaiman alias Riyad, Ibrahim Hossain Munna, Sakadaun Siam, Sadman Sadab, and Aminul Islam.

All five held positions in the Students Against Discrimination and Ganatantrik Chhatra Sangsad. They were expelled from their respective organisations following the arrest.

Following the incident, Zafar filed a formal complaint at Gulshan Police Station, naming six individuals in the extortion case.

Meanwhile, police have seized four different bank cheque pages, valued at Tk2.5 crore, and recovered Tk2,98,000 in cash from Riyad's possession at two separate locations in Babubazar and Badda.