Narayanganj tops extortionist, notorious criminal lists; Mohammadpur leads in snatchers: SRB
The figures come from a document titled “Summary of Notorious Criminals, Extortionists, and Muggers by Battalion”, updated until 10 September and covering 15 SRB battalions.
Highlights:
- SRB lists 3,586 extortionists, 2,258 'notorious criminals' and 534 muggers nationwide
- Narayanganj and Chattogram battalions account for nearly 30% of listed extortionists
- Five battalions in and around Dhaka list 1,254 extortionists
- SRB-11 lists 408 'notorious criminals', the highest among 15 battalions
- SRB-2 lists 130 muggers in Mohammadpur and surrounding areas
- SRB says lists are based on activities, not political identities
Narayanganj has the highest number of people listed as extortionists and "notorious criminals" nationwide, while Mohammadpur in Dhaka leads the list of suspected snatchers, according to data compiled by the Special Response Battalion (SRB).
Of 3,586 people listed as extortionists, 565 are from the Narayanganj region. The region also accounts for 408 of the 2,258 "notorious criminals".
Meanwhile, Mohammadpur and adjoining areas have 130 of the 534 people identified as snatchers.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
The figures were compiled from information provided by the SRB's 15 battalions in a document "Summary of Notorious Criminals, Extortionists and Snatchers by Battalion", updated through 10 September.
The lists include people with political affiliations, some of whom face multiple cases involving murder, firearms and explosives.
SRB Director General Md Ahsan Habib Palash told TBS that the lists were prepared based on activities, not political affiliations.
"The lists are being updated using information from different law enforcement agencies and intelligence organisations. This is an ongoing process," he said, adding that the SRB was verifying information to bring actual offenders to justice without harassing anyone.
Narayanganj leads extortionist list
SRB-11, responsible for the Narayanganj region, has the highest number of extortionists, with 565, followed by SRB-7, covering Chattogram and adjoining areas, with 503.
Together, the two battalions account for nearly 30% of the nationwide list.
SRB-11 covers Narayanganj, Narsingdi, Cumilla, Chandpur, parts of Brahmanbaria, Noakhali, Lakshmipur and Feni. Narayanganj and Narsingdi have a high concentration of industrial establishments.
SRB-7 is responsible for Chattogram city and district, Feni, Khagrachhari, Rangamati, Bandarban and parts of Cox's Bazar.
The SRB-12 battalion in Sirajganj has 277 names, followed by SRB-5 in Rajshahi with 216 and SRB-6 in Khulna and adjoining districts with 200. Rangpur has 187 names, Barishal 149 and Sylhet 123. Cox's Bazar and Mymensingh have 72 and 70, respectively.
The five battalions covering Dhaka and surrounding areas have listed 1,254 extortionists. SRB-1, covering Uttara and adjoining areas, has 393 names; SRB-4, responsible for Mirpur, Savar and parts of Manikganj, has 347; and SRB-10, covering Keraniganj and parts of Old Dhaka, has 277. SRB-2 has 215 names, while SRB-3 has 22.
2,258 listed as 'notorious criminals'
The SRB document identifies 2,258 people as "notorious criminals" across its 15 battalions. Narayanganj tops the list with 408 names, followed by Sirajganj with 324, Chattogram with 277 and Mymensingh with 239.
The lists also include 216 names in Rajshahi, 214 in Khulna, 195 in Sylhet and 100 in areas covered by SRB-10.
No one has been listed under this category in areas covered by SRB-3, including Malibagh, Khilgaon, Shahjahanpur and Mugda, according to the document.
Mohammadpur tops snatcher list
Of the 534 people listed as snatchers, 130 are from Mohammadpur, Adabor and adjoining areas covered by SRB-2.
Mirpur ranks second with 112 names, followed by Keraniganj and parts of Old Dhaka with 103. Areas covered by SRB-3 account for 99 names, while SRB-1 in Uttara has 90. The lists for the remaining 10 battalions contain no names.
Industrial-area operations to continue
Wing Commander MZM Intekhab Chowdhury, director of the battalion's law and media wing and its spokesperson, said intelligence surveillance had been strengthened to curb extortion in industrial areas.
He said 26 people had been arrested in extortion-related cases over the past two months. Operations against suspected criminals and snatchers would continue, he added.
Two BNP leaders held over extortion
Shahinur Alam Marfat, founding president of the Khilkhet thana BNP, was detained on charge of extortion on 5 October and later handed over to the Detective Branch. Mizanur Rahman Swapan, president of ward 28 of the Sher-e-Bangla Nagar thana BNP, was detained the same day and handed over to the local police station.
Monirul Islam, officer-in-charge of Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station, said Swapan had been shown arrested in an older extortion case and sent to court.
SRB sources said Swapan faces allegations of collecting money from a garment factory, operating an ambulance syndicate at the National Institute of Neurosciences and Hospital, extorting footpath vendors in Agargaon and collecting money from drug traders in a Sher-e-Bangla Nagar slum.
