Engineer assaulted in front of police in Chattogram over alleged extortion demand

A man allegedly identifying himself as a Jubo Dal leader has been accused of demanding 50 per cent of a contractor’s earnings as extortion in Anwara, Chattogram, and assaulting three people, including an engineer, after the demand was refused.

The alleged attackers reportedly attempted to assault employees of the contracting firm even in the presence of police officers.

The incident took place outside the project site of United Chattogram Power Limited (UCPL) in Anwara around 10:30am on Wednesday (12 August).

Local resident Ali Hossain has been accused in connection with the incident. Those injured are Shahriar Amir, an engineer at contractor firm Messrs FM Enterprise, and the company’s proprietor, Md Delwar Hossain. Jinnat Ayub, a partner of the firm and a local journalist, was also allegedly assaulted.

Shahriar Amir alleged that Ali Hossain had been demanding extortion from them for a long time while introducing himself as a Jubo Dal leader.

According to him, Ali demanded 50 per cent of their earnings as a condition for conducting business in the area.

He alleged that after the company refused to pay the extortion, a group of people led by Ali Hossain intercepted them on Wednesday morning and assaulted them with locally made weapons. Shahriar said he managed to escape after local residents came forward.

He further said they informed Karnaphuli police following the incident, and officers arrived at the scene. However, the alleged attackers again confronted them and attempted to assault them in the presence of the police, he claimed.

Delwar Hossain, proprietor of Messrs FM Enterprise, said a case against Ali Hossain and the other accused is being processed at the police station.

He said police had assured them of legal assistance and called for a proper investigation, justice and adequate security.

Several attempts were made to contact Ali Hossain over the phone for his comment on the allegations, but he did not respond.

Nure Alam Siddiqui, in-charge of the Bandar Police Outpost under Karnaphuli Police Station, said police went to the scene on the instructions of the officer-in-charge after receiving the complaint.

He said the accused became agitated and attempted to launch another attack with a group of people, but police quickly brought the situation under control.

Karnaphuli Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md Ikhtiar Uddin said the contracting firm had submitted a complaint and that police had taken the necessary legal steps based on it.

Meanwhile, when contacted for comment on the allegation that Ali Hossain had demanded extortion while identifying himself as a Jubo Dal leader, local lawmaker Sarwar Jamal Nizam said, “I do not know any BNP activist named Ali Hossain. You should take legal action against him.”