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Police have recovered a new motorcycle from the house of Jaane Alam Apu aka Kazi Gaurab Apu, the joint convenor of the Ganatantrik Chhatra Sangsad, who was arrested on extortion charges after allegedly visiting the home of a former MP in Dhaka’s upscale Gulshan, posing as a coordinator of the Students Against Discrimination.
Initial investigation revealed that they demanded a ransom of Tk 5 million and took Tk 1 million in cash on the same day.
According to police, the motorcycle recovered from Apu’s house in Mohammadpur was purchased on Jul 17, the same day that Tk 1 million was allegedly extorted.
It is currently being investigated whether the motorcycle was bought using the extorted money.
On Jul 26, police arrested five people associated with the Students Against Discrimination who were attempting to extort money from the residence of Shammi Ahmed, a former MP from a reserved women’s seat, in Gulshan-2.
On Friday, police announced the latest arrest of Apu from Dhaka’s Gopibagh, saying he had fled during the earlier arrests made on the day of the incident.
He used to pose as a coordinator of the Students Against Discrimination.
Based on the information obtained during interrogation, DMP Deputy Commissioner on media and public relations Muhammad Talebur Rahman said at a briefing on Saturday: “The motorcycle was newly purchased on Jul 17. We are currently investigating the source of the funds used to buy it.”
Efforts are ongoing to arrest others involved in the incident, he added.
Speaking at a press briefing on Friday, Talebur gave information about the arrest of a total of six people in connection with the extortion demand at the MP's house.
Describing the incident, he said: “The incident began on Jul 17. Around 10am, two people named Jaane Alam Apu and Riyad first went to the house and demanded Tk 5 million.
“They brought Tk 1 million in cash on the same day, according to the initial investigation.
“Later, on Jul 19 at 10:30pm, they returned to the house and again pressured her for the remaining Tk 4 million.
“Then, on Jul 26, more people went there and continued to demand the rest of the money.”
After police were informed, five people were caught “red-handed” at the scene and taken into custody, while one managed to flee. The fugitive, Apu, was later arrested on Friday.
At the briefing, it was also announced that four cheques worth Tk 22.5 million were recovered from the house of Abdur Razzak Riyad, a former leader of the Students Against Discrimination, who was arrested on the day of the incident. Additionally, Tk 298,000 in cash was recovered from another of his houses in Badda.
The three other arrestees are Md Sakadaun Siam, 22, Sadman Sadab, 21, and Ibrahim Hossain, 24. The fourth arrestee has not been named as they are a minor.
Following the incident, Ibrahim Hossain Munna, the convenor of the Dhaka Metropolitan unit of the Students Against Discrimination, along with members Sakadaun and Sadab, were expelled from their organisational posts for allegedly engaging in activities that violated the organisation’s policies and discipline.
In addition, the organisation suspended the activities of all committees nationwide.