Allegation of Extortion Against Anti-Discrimination Movement’s Member Secretary in Chattogram

A woman named Riyazul Jannat has filed a written complaint with the Chattogram Police Commissioner, accusing the member secretary of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement in Chattogram of extortion. In her letter, she alleged that Nizam Uddin, the member secretary of the movement’s city unit, demanded Tk 2 crore from her husband and, upon failure to receive the money, had him implicated in a false case, leading to his arrest by the police.

On Saturday, Riyazul Jannat submitted the complaint to Police Commissioner Hasib Aziz. She is the wife of Nausad Jamal, the secretary of the Bagmoniram South Organizational Ward of Jamaat-e-Islami. Nausad was arrested by Kotwali police last Thursday. According to the police, Nausad was the general secretary of the National Workers’ League Meghna Petroleum Employees Union.

In her letter, Riyazul Jannat stated that her husband, Nausad Jamal, is involved in Jamaat-e-Islami politics and serves as the general secretary of the Meghna Petroleum Employees Union. She alleged that Nizam Uddin, identifying himself as a leader of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, had been demanding Tk 2 crore from her husband. When the demand was not met, her husband was framed in a false case. Riyazul Jannat also mentioned a 6-minute-50-second video in her complaint, in which Nizam Uddin is seen talking on a mobile phone in a room. At one point, he is heard saying, “Listen, brother, there’s nothing the police can’t do... I’m saying, if you have a grudge against someone, those three people are enough... If you want, those three can be dealt with... But you have to stay in the country, keep that in mind.” Meanwhile, in a Facebook post, Nizam Uddin denied the extortion allegations, claiming the video cited by Riyazul Jannat is old, dating back four to five months from the Patenga police station area. He noted that Nausad was arrested just two days ago in a case filed at Kotwali police station. Nizam further stated in his post, “There’s no mention of ‘demanding money’ in the video, yet a group is using it as a shield to label it as ‘extortion.’” Speaking Nizam Uddin called the accusation a conspiracy. He claimed he had told the Officer-in-Charge (OC) to take action against Nausad if he was involved with the Awami League, otherwise to release him. However, he alleged that the accusers are now claiming he had Nausad arrested.

When contacted, Mahmuda Begum, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Media) of Chattogram Metropolitan Police, said such complaints are typically forwarded to the relevant police station or the Deputy Commissioner’s office, or the Police Commissioner may form an investigation committee to take appropriate action.