SRB arrests ex-BNP leader for extortion

Special Response Battalion (SRB) has arrested Shahinur Alam, former president of  BNP’s Khilkhet Thana unit for his alleged involvement in extortion.

He was arrested from the Khilkhet area of the capital on Sunday.

SRB-1 Commander Lieutenant Colonel Mohammad Neyamul Halim Khan told the media that a team of SRB-1 arrested Shahinur from Khilkhet at around 12:30pm.

“Shahinur is a listed extortionist. He has already been handed over to police following his arrest,” he said.

Khilkhet Police Station (PS) Officer-in-Charge (OC) Sohrab Hossain said SRB detained Shahinur over allegations of extortion and handed him over to the police station around noon. Legal action has been taken against him, said the PS OC. 

According to police records, Shahinur and his associates allegedly collected extortion money from auto-rickshaw garages in Khilkhet Bazar Railgate, Barua, Mastul, Talna and surrounding areas. The records said there are around 30 to 35 auto-rickshaw garages in the area, where more than 1,000 vehicles are kept.

According to the police documents, the gang allegedly collected Tk 600 per month from each auto-rickshaw.