Police struggle to act on list of 545 extortionists

Many suspects have links to ruling party

The government has prepared a list of 545 suspected extortionists operating across the capital and instructed the Dhaka Metropolitan Police to take action against them.

However, police have yet to launch a fully-fledged crackdown, as officials struggle to determine how to proceed after detaining suspects and field-level officers hesitate to act against those with political connections for fear of repercussions.

The list was made based on information collected by different intelligence agencies, according to home ministry sources.

It is the second such list after the BNP came to power. Earlier, the DMP prepared a list of more than 1,200 suspected extortionists, a large number of whom were affiliated with the BNP.

Joint Commissioner (Crime) Md Faruk Hossain told The Daily Star that the latest list was prepared after verifying the previous list and collecting fresh information from the field. 

“Several individuals have already been arrested from the list.”

“Whenever field-level officers were instructed to arrest them, they were loath to carry out the orders, saying that the individuals have connections with MPs or ministers and could take revenge on them later.”

An additional deputy commissioner of the DMP

The development comes amid a series of incidents involving extortion and land grabbing in the capital, triggering growing criticism of the law-and- order situation.

According to the latest list, Tejgaon division has the highest number of listed extortionists at 155, followed by Gulshan with 85, Uttara 72, Lalbagh 71, Mirpur 66, Ramna 50, Wari 24, and Motijheel 22.

This newspaper obtained the names of 215 from the list. At least 75 of them were identified as having links to the BNP or its affiliated organisations. 

Another 134 have no political or organisational identity. The remaining six included two individuals connected with the Awami League and two former police members.

According to the DMP media wing, 41 individuals from the list have been arrested until October 8. Among them was Mizanur Rahman Swapan, president of BNP’s ward-28 in Dhaka north. 

On October 5, the Special Response Battalion (SRB), formerly known as Rab, held Swapan and handed him over to the Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station. 

The following day, he was granted bail after police produced him before a court. He was shown arrested in a case filed over demanding extortion from a doctor.

SRB sources, however, said Swapan was arrested over allegations of collecting extortion from footpath vendors.

Talking to this correspondent, Monirul Islam, officer-in-charge of Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station, said SRB had not handed Swapan over in connection with any case. As a result, Swapan was arrested as a suspect in an old extortion case. 

An official of the Tejgaon division said SRB recently handed over a BNP leader from the Khilkhet area whose name was on the list.

“We were in a difficult situation as we could not decide on the next course of action,” he said. “He was later arrested in a case filed over extortion in the Karwan Bazar area. However, he secured bail within two days.”

“If a listed extortionist secures bail within two or three days, then making a list or arresting them will not change the situation,” he said.

Another DB officer, seeking anonymity, said police could not simply arrest anyone without a specific complaint or case.

“If we arrest someone based only on the list, under which case would we show them arrested? We need a clear guideline on this.

“As we are yet to receive any clear guideline, we are now proceeding slowly,” he said.

Several police officials said the crackdown could not be carried out effectively by police alone, as field-level officers fear repercussions for taking action against politically connected persons.

An additional deputy commissioner of the DMP said listed extortionists have links with the ruling BNP.

“Whenever field-level officers were instructed to arrest them, they were loath to carry out the orders, saying that the individuals have connections with MPs or ministers and could take revenge on them later.”

“It would be better if the crackdown were carried out through a joint drive led by the SRB or the army.”

A deputy commissioner of DB said police recently traced the whereabouts of a leader of an associate organisation of the BNP.

However, after hearing that he has connections with a minister, field-level officers tried to avoid the drive to detain him, the DB official said, adding that, “A joint drive would be the best option, as it would ensure that police are not solely responsible for such arrests.”

Talking to The Daily Star, BNP Joint Secretary General Syed Emran Saleh Prince said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is committed to ensuring safety and security of the people and fulfilling their expectations.

Those who want to undermine that commitment, whether they are from our party or outside it, should not be spared by the administration. There is no restriction, either from the party or the government, on arresting those involved in crimes, no matter how influential they are, he said. 

“Where our leader Tarique Rahman has forced a sitting BNP MP to resign as soon as allegations were raised against him, and where the BNP has dissolved a metropolitan unit committee as well as its affiliated organisations, including Chhatra Dal and Jubo Dal, does that not send a message to the law enforcement agencies?”

Contacted, Manzur Morshed, senior home ministry secretary, said joint drives were already underway, with different law enforcement agencies carrying out their respective duties.

Regarding possible repercussions for taking action against politically influential individuals, he said political affiliation should not shield wrongdoers. “Police will take action in accordance with the law.”