'Framed in a dirty game,' says ex-SAD leader Munna as four remanded in Tejgaon extortion case

A Dhaka court has placed four student leaders, including expelled Bangladesh Gonotantrik Chhatra Songshod central committee member Abdur Razzak Riad and Dhaka city convener of the Students Against Discrimination (SAD) Ibrahim Hossain Munna, on a four-day remand each in a Tk5 crore extortion case filed with Tejgaon Police Station.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Sarah Farzana Haque passed the order today (27 August) after investigation officer Sub-Inspector Nazmul Jannat Shah produced them in court seeking seven days of remand, according to court sources.

The two other accused sent on remand are expelled SAD members, Md Sakadaun Siam and Sadman Sadab.

Before the hearing, Ibrahim Hossain Munna told reporters at the court premises, "We have been framed. We are caught in a dirty game. We are behind bars, but we don't know who is setting us up."

Another accused added, "We were heroes in July, but today we are being made villains. We did not betray July. One case after another is being filed only to harass us."

According to the case statement, on 26 June, the four accused visited the Green Road-based garment factory of Net Zone Private Limited, owned by businessman Abul Kalam Azad, posing as coordinators and demanding Tk5 crore.

When Azad refused, they allegedly threatened to hand him over to the police and instigate a mob against him.

They also forced him to sign several cheques from his Janata Bank account and pressured him to deposit money immediately. The case was filed with the Tejgaon Police Station on 1 August.

Earlier, on 26 July, they had been arrested on allegations of demanding Tk50 lakh in extortion from former lawmaker, Shammi Ahmed, at her residence in Gulshan.

In that case, the accused Riad gave a confessional statement, while the others remain behind bars.