A Dhaka court has placed student leader Jane Alam Apu, also known as Kazi Gaurab Apu, on a four-day remand in connection with an extortion case filed over an incident at a former MP’s residence in Gulshan. Apu is a joint convener of the Bangladesh Gono-Tantrik Chhatra Sangsad.
On Saturday, Metropolitan Magistrate Nazmin Akter granted the remand following a hearing on a 10-day remand petition submitted by Gulshan Police Inspector Mokhlesur Rahman, who is investigating the case.
Apu was arrested from Dhaka’s Wari area on Thursday night. He is the second accused in the case, filed by Siddiq Abu Zafar, husband of former reserved seat MP Shammi Ahmed.
According to the complaint, on July 17, Apu and co-accused Abdur Razzak Riyad, introducing themselves as leaders of an anti-discrimination movement, went to the MP’s residence and demanded Tk 50 lakh and gold ornaments, threatening arrest and political harassment if their demands were not met. The complainant paid them Tk 10 lakh under pressure.
Police previously arrested five others in the case, including Riyad and three members of the anti-discrimination student movement. Four of them have already been remanded for seven days, while a juvenile suspect is in custody.
Following internal probes, the anti-discrimination group expelled three Dhaka city unit leaders for violating organizational rules. All committees outside the central one have been suspended.
Based on information from those in custody, police recovered four blank cheques worth over Tk 2.25 crore from Riyad’s apartment and Tk 2.98 lakh in cash from another rented flat in Badda, believed to be part of the extorted amount.
Police claim that Apu and Riyad formed an extortion ring following political unrest and were involved in threatening individuals for money using false identities and intimidation tactics, including land grabbing and mob threats. Investigations are ongoing to identify their wider network.
