Abdur Razzak Riyad, former acting convener of the Combined Private University Unit of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, has been named as an accused in an extortion case filed with Gulshan Police Station on July 27.
After completing a seven-day remand, Riyad gave a confessional statement in court on Sunday, admitting his involvement in extortion and seeking forgiveness for his actions.
In his statement, Riyad said, “I am the son of a poor man. I couldn’t resist the temptation of money.”
Previously, on July 26, Riyad was arrested while attempting to extort money at the Gulshan residence of Shammi Akhter, a former Member of Parliament from a reserved seat. Following his arrest, Riyad was expelled from his position in the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement.
In his confession, Riyad admitted to assisting the police on several occasions in arresting fascist individuals. On the night of July 17, he contacted the Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Gulshan Zone via phone through Zakir Hossain Manju, Senior Vice-President of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement.
He informed the DC that former MP Shammi Akhter was present at her Gulshan residence. The DC then instructed the Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Gulshan Police Station to look into the matter.
Later that night, around 2 AM, Riyad, along with Manju, Jane Alam Apu, Sabab Hossain, Atik Shahriar, Sadakaun Siam, Tanim Wahid, and several others, went to Gulshan Police Station. The OC informed them that no raid could be conducted at that hour in Gulshan Society and advised them to wait until the Fajr prayer.
Subsequently, a police team was assigned to accompany them. Under Riad’s leadership, the team proceeded to Shammi Akhter’s house, with the OC (Investigation) of Gulshan Police Station leading the operation. However, they returned at 7:30 AM after failing to locate Shammi at home.
In his confession, Riyad further stated, “Jane Alam Apu took Shammi’s AirPods from the house. Later that day, at around 10 AM, both of us went back to return the AirPods. Once inside, Apu pretended to ask for water and told Shammi’s husband, Siddiq Abu Zafar, ‘Shammi is at home; we will hand her over to the police.’ Frightened, Abu Zafar offered us money.
Apu demanded 5 million BDT (50 lakh). However, he said that much money wasn’t available at home. Eventually, we took 1 million BDT (10 lakh) and left. Apu and I split the money equally. Later, on July 26 afternoon, to collect the remaining 4 million BDT (40 lakh), I sent Ibrahim Hossain Munna, Siam, and Sadman to the house. The police asked me to go as well. Upon arrival, the police arrested us red-handed with the money.”
Court sources stated that Riad and three other accused were presented before the court yesterday. Riyad voluntarily agreed to give a confessional statement. Subsequently, Investigation Officer Mokhlesur Rahman, Police Inspector (Investigation) of Gulshan Police Station, applied to record his statement.
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Md. Sefatullah recorded his confession and ordered his transfer to jail. The court also ordered the detention of the other three accused: Md. Ibrahim Hossain, Sakkadown Siam, and Sadman Sadab, all of whom had already been expelled from their respective organizations.
Previously, on July 27, a seven-day remand was granted for Riyad and the other three accused. On that same day, a minor involved in the case, Md. Aminul Islam, was sent to the Gazipur Juvenile Development Center. Additionally, Jane Alam Apu, expelled Joint Convener of the Bangladesh Democratic Student Council, is currently under a four-day remand, granted on August 2.
The extortion case was filed by victim Siddiq Abu Zafar on July 26 at around 12:30 AM at Gulshan Police Station, naming six individuals as accused.
LND/SAE
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