Woman assaulted; her shop grabbed, turned into 'BNP office' by extortionists in Ctg

A woman in Chattogram's Patiya upazila has filed a case alleging that local individuals attempted to grab her shop by putting up a signboard for a BNP office and later detained, assaulted and molested her during a dispute over the property.

The case was filed with Patiya Police Station, naming two individuals – Md Sekandar and Enamur Rashid Prakash Nasu – as accused.

Officer-in-Charge of Patiya Police Station, Md Ziaul Haque, said police have recorded the case based on the complaint.

"The investigating officer is collecting evidence, and necessary legal action will be taken after the investigation. Police are conducting drives to apprehend the accused," he said.

According to police, the case includes allegations of vandalism, molestation, theft, and issuing death threats, among other charges.

In the complaint, the victim alleged that the two accused, residents of the Perla area in Baralia union, obstructed renovation work at her shop and demanded Tk2 lakh in extortion.

She said the incident took place around 1:30pm on 7 March while iron grills and shutters were being installed at the shop by a technician. At that time, the accused arrived with several unidentified individuals.

When she refused to pay the money, they allegedly broke the newly installed grills, causing damage worth about Tk30,000, and assaulted her. At one stage, her clothes were pulled and torn, leading to allegations of molestation.

The victim also alleged that a smartphone and a gold chain weighing over one bhori were taken from her during the incident.

She further said she was detained inside the shop for about two and a half hours and threatened with death. After being released around 4pm, she sought treatment at Patiya Upazila Health Complex.

According to the victim, a group of local individuals had earlier occupied the shop, which she said belonged to her husband's ancestral property, and put up a signboard reading "Baralia Union BNP Office".

The signboard was later removed following intervention by the administration, and she regained possession of the shop about a month ago.

However, she said the same group attempted to occupy the shop again when renovation work began.

Baralia Union BNP President Abdul Mannan denied that the shop was used as a party office.

"This is not an office of the Union BNP," he said, adding that the party does not know who put up the signboard.

The main accused, Sekandar, said he had put up the signboard at the shop and that the police were informed about the matter. He also said that there was a delay in removing it.

He did not comment on the recent allegations of extortion, harassment, and assault.

Meanwhile, locals said there have been long-standing allegations of extortion against the second accused, Enamur Rashid Prakash Nasu. 

According to them, he has been accused at different times of intimidating businessmen and local influential individuals to collect money.

They also alleged that following extortion allegations, Nasu was expelled from Jamaat last year.

Locals said he currently associates with a group of BNP supporters, although he does not hold any official position in the party.

His comments regarding the matter could not be obtained.