Police have arrested five members of an alleged organised gang accused of blackmailing and extorting money from victims by luring them into honey traps in the capital.
The arrestees were identified as Md Anwar Hossain, 45, Badiuzzaman Shahin, 45, Mariam, 49, Shahadat Hossain, 58, and Urmi Begum, 39.
The arrests were confirmed in a press release issued on Monday by Niaz Mehdi, Additional Deputy Commissioner of the Media and Public Relations Division of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP).
According to the statement, on April 15, a loan officer of a private financial institution visited a market in South Banasree on official duty when a woman introduced herself as a prospective borrower and became acquainted with him.
After maintaining regular contact over the phone for several days and developing a close relationship, she invited him to meet in front of Ekota Hospital in Banasree. From there, another woman allegedly took the victim to an apartment in Khilgaon, where four other members of the gang assaulted him and recorded a compromising video involving a woman.
The suspects allegedly took away the victim's mobile phone, wallet, cash, ATM card, national identity card, driving licence, motorcycle registration documents and other important papers.
They later demanded Tk300,000, threatening to release the video on social media if the money was not paid. The gang also allegedly withdrew Tk110,000 from the victim's bank account through the mobile financial services bKash and Upay.
The victim filed a case with Khilgaon Police Station on June 22.
According to the DMP, detectives conducted raids in Sabujbagh, Badda and Khilgaon between the night of July 3 and the morning of July 4, arresting all five suspects. Police also recovered nine mobile phones, a walkie-talkie and Tk4,000 in cash.
Preliminary investigation found evidence suggesting the group used the same modus operandi to target multiple victims. The suspects have been placed on remand, and the investigation is ongoing.
