Faridpur trader family in hiding after refusing 'extortion demand from Krishak Dal leader'

The members of a family in Faridpur Sadar upazila are in hiding after allegedly being harassed by local BNP activists for refusing an "extortion demand from a Krishak Dal leader" over their brick kiln business.

The family, well known for their business ventures in the upazila, alleged that, since 5 August last year, Farid Sheikh, a resident of Boitakhali area in Faridpur municipality and vice president of the Metropolitan Krishak Dal, a BNP affiliate, has been demanding Tk50 lakh from them. 

As they refused to pay the money, local leaders and activists of the BNP and Jubo Dal have been harassing them in various forms, including threats and intimidation.

Bishwajit Ghosh, the owner of the brick kiln, "Parashmoni Bricks", passed away recently. 

Chanda Ghosh, his sister, filed a case with a magistrate court in Faridpur on 30 July, naming Farid and seven others, and 20-25 unnamed people, on an attempted extortion allegation. The case is currently under investigation at the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI).

She alleged that on Saturday, they were threatened with forced displacement if the case was not withdrawn and the extortion money was not paid as demanded.

The family also says Farid, after the Awami League government's ouster last year, had filed a case against Bishwajit and his three brothers with Dhaka's Badda police station in connection with the killing of a trader reportedly in police firing during the July uprising. 

The family members say it is a false case and filed only because of their familial ties to Bipul Ghosh, a former executive committee member of the district Awami League. Bishwajit, however, had secured bail. 

Chanda alleged that on Saturday afternoon, under the leadership of Farid Sheikh, several individuals, including Shah Md Liton, president of municipality ward-3 BNP; Rajib Sardar, a Jubo Dal leader; and one Shahin dug a large trench using excavators, blocking the entrance to the brick kiln. 

"At that time, they also threatened to displace us if the extortion is not paid."

She said at that time they called the police via the emergency helpline 999. "But the group had already left with the excavator about ten minutes before the police arrived."

Before that, the local office of the Department of Environment (DoE) conducted a raid on the brick kiln and demolished its chimney, claiming that a complaint had been filed in Dhaka against the kiln, and based on that, the ministry instructed them to dismantle it.

"Farid Sheikh has been demanding Tk50 lakh in extortion from us. When we refused to pay, he assaulted two managers of the brick kiln, halted the sale of bricks, and used his influence over the local administration to have the kiln's chimney demolished. They've even barred us from entering the brick kiln premises," Chanda Ghosh, who is also a lawyer of the Supreme Court, told TBS.

Contacted, Farid refused the allegation of an extortion bid brought against him. "I have a business relationship with the family. The local administration, local brick kiln owners' association, and local community heads are well aware of the matter."

Farid said he owes Tk9 lakh to the family for supplying soil to their brick kiln. "During the Awami League's tenure, I was threatened when I asked for the money."

Farid, however, admitted that he, along with his business partners, has cut off the access road to the brick kiln.  

The brick kiln, located in Shibrampur area, is currently managed by Chanchal Ghosh, a brother of Bishwajit.

"We are living in constant fear. The members of our family stay out of home to avoid ongoing harassment. We even could not resist them when they damaged the access road to our brick kiln on Saturday," Chanchal Ghosh told TBS.

Talking to TBS, Faridpur Kotwali police station OC Md Asaduzzaman said they were not aware of any extortion allegations in this connection, but when they were contacted by the family via a 999 call, the police responded immediately. 

The OC told this reporter to send the victims to him, saying that if there are any complaints regarding extortion or other issues, the police will take legal action accordingly.