Two SAD members detained over alleged extortion in Chattogram

Two members of the Students Against Discrimination (SAD) were detained by locals in Chattogram after they allegedly tried to extort money from a business establishment in Agrabad are posing as "student coordinators".

They were later handed over to the police on Wednesday (26 March) evening.

The detainees have been identified as Shahriar Sikder and Abir Chowdhury, Ctg SAD Member Secretary Nizam Uddin and local police confirmed to The Business Standard.

Nizam Uddin said, "Shahriar, Abir, and a few others went to the hotel after hearing that leaders and activists of the Chhatra League were present there. Later, locals detained the two and handed them to the police, alleging extortion."

As of 10:30pm, they were under the custody of Double Mooring Police Station.

The station's Officer-in-Charge (OC) Rafiqul Islam told TBS that locals informed them after detaining the two SAD members along with several others.

"They went to the Barishal Hotel in the Agrabad area and allegedly demanded Tk10 lakh as extortion claiming to be student coordinators," he added citing locals.

OC Rafiqul further noted that they contacted leaders of the SAD, who confirmed that the detained individuals were associated with the organisation.

He said, "The detainees claimed that they went to a residential hotel after learning that some leaders and activists of banned Chhatra League were hiding in the hotel."

"We are yet to receive any written complaint of extortion. The decision in this regard will be taken after consulting with the higher authority if there is no complaint", the OC said.

In reply to a query, OC Rafiqul said, "It is annoying for us when the students conduct raids without informing us."