Riyad confesses to Gulshan extortion, four others sent to jail custody

Abdur Razzak Bin Sulaiman Riyad, expelled leader of the Bangladesh Ganatantrik Chhatra Sangsad who was arrested on charges of extortion at the Gulshan residence of former Awami League MP Shammi Ahmed, has given a confessional statement in court.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Md Sefatullah recorded his statement under Section 164 on Sunday, following a petition by the investigating officer.

The judge then sent him to jail custody, according to the court’s prosecution wing Sub-Inspector Moktar Hossain.

Gulshan Police Station Inspector (Investigation) Mokhlesur Rahman, the investigating officer of the case, produced Riyad and three other accused before the court after a four-day remand.

The other three are: Students Against Discrimination’s Dhaka chapter's expelled convenor Ibrahim Hossain, members Sakadaun Siam and Sadman Sadab.

Since Riyad agreed to give a confessional statement, the investigating officer petitioned to record it and requested that the other three be kept in jail.

Dhaka Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Ziadur Rahman sent the other three suspects to jail custody.

On Jul 26, police arrested Riyad along with four others at the house of former reserved seat MP Shammi for alleged extortion.

Among the arrestees were Ibrahim, Sakadaun, and Sadman. Another suspect is a minor.

Following the incident, Riyad and four others were permanently expelled from the Students Against Discrimination.

Shammi's husband, Siddiq Abu Zafar, later filed a case with Gulshan Police Station against six people, including Riyad. One of the suspects, Jaane Alam Apu aka Kazi Gaurab Apu, fled the scene and evaded arrest.

On Jul 27, a court granted police seven days to grill four of the arrestees, including Riyad.

The case states that on the morning of Jul 17, Riyad and Apu visited the Gulshan residence of former MP Shammi and allegedly demanded Tk 5 million in cash and gold jewellery. When the demand was refused, they labelled the household as “allies of the Awami League” and threatened to have them arrested.

Zafar ultimately handed over Tk 1 million under duress, half from his own funds and half borrowed from his brother.

Later, on the night of Jul 19, Riyad and Apu allegedly returned and banged on the door of the flat. After the incident was reported to Gulshan police, they fled.

A week later, on Jul 26, Riyad and others allegedly appeared again outside the residence and threatened the family over the remaining Tk 4 million, warning that failure to pay would lead to arrest.

The victims alerted Gulshan police, who apprehended five people at the scene. The sixth suspect, Apu, managed to escape.

While in remand, police reported on Wednesday that they seized four cheques worth Tk 22.5 million from Riyad’s residence in Kalabagan.

The following day, Gulshan Police Station chief Hafizur Rahman said they recovered Tk 298,000 in cash from Riyad’s residence in Badda.

According to police, this money is part of Tk 1 million allegedly extorted from the residence of former MP Shammi.

That night, Apu was arrested in Dhaka’s Wari, Deputy Commissioner Talebur Rahman of Dhaka Metropolitan Police confirmed. On Saturday, the court placed him in a 4-day remand.