Saturday, 02 August, 2025
Police have recovered nearly Tk 300,000 in alleged extortion money from the rented flat of Abdur Razzak bin Sulaiman Riyad, a dismissed student leader of the anti-discrimination platform “Students Against Discrimination.” The sum is claimed to be part of Tk 1 million extorted from the residence of former MP Shammi Ahmed.
The cash—Tk 298,000—was found on Thursday morning in a room Riyad occupied in a shared apartment in Dhaka’s Badda, said Gulshan police chief Hafizur Rahman. He added that Riyad disclosed the location during police remand the previous night.
Riyad, who was arrested on Saturday, had been living in one of three rooms in the apartment, reportedly shared with several others. Police described his room as “lavishly furnished.” His alleged accomplice, Kazi Gaurab Apu—the second accused in the Gulshan case—remains at large.
Separately, Dhaka Metropolitan Police spokesperson Talebur Rahman said on Wednesday that four blank cheques worth over Tk 20 million had been recovered from another flat used by Riyad in West Rajabazar. Issued by a company named Trade Zone, the cheques include two for Tk 10 million each, one for Tk 1.5 million, and another for Tk 1 million.
Trade Zone, based in Kalabagan, is reportedly linked to former Rangpur MP Abul Kalam Azad. Police allege that Riyad coerced the company into handing over the cheques.
According to investigators, Riyad has admitted to receiving Tk 500,000 of the Tk 1 million extorted from Shammi Ahmed’s residence, with the rest allegedly distributed among other members of the group.
Police said the recovered Tk 298,000 will be shown as evidence and that they are now investigating a Southeast Bank account registered in Riyad’s name.
Officials further alleged that following the fall of the Awami League government, Riyad and Apu formed a criminal group involved in land grabbing, intimidation, and extortion—activities that became their primary source of income.
While the Dhaka Metropolitan Police said Kalabagan police were preparing a case over the recovered cheques, no formal complaint had been lodged as of Thursday evening. Kalabagan Police Station chief Fazle Ashiq confirmed that they had yet to receive an official report.
Efforts to reach former MP Azad and the manager of Trade Zone for comment were unsuccessful.
Police also arrested four other individuals on Saturday, allegedly linked to Students Against Discrimination: Md Sakadaun Siam (22), Sadman Sadab (21), and Ibrahim Hossain (24). Riyad, 25, is said to be the acting convenor of the group’s United International University unit, while Ibrahim led its Dhaka Metropolitan chapter. Siam and Sadab were members.
The group has since expelled Ibrahim, Siam, and Sadab permanently.
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Police have recovered nearly Tk 300,000 in alleged extortion money from the rented flat of Abdur Razzak bin Sulaiman Riyad, a dismissed student leader of the anti-discrimination platform “Students Against Discrimination.” The sum is claimed to be part of Tk 1 million extorted from the residence of former MP Shammi Ahmed.
The cash—Tk 298,000—was found on Thursday morning in a room Riyad occupied in a shared apartment in Dhaka’s Badda, said Gulshan police chief Hafizur Rahman. He added that Riyad disclosed the location during police remand the previous night.
Riyad, who was arrested on Saturday, had been living in one of three rooms in the apartment, reportedly shared with several others. Police described his room as “lavishly furnished.” His alleged accomplice, Kazi Gaurab Apu—the second accused in the Gulshan case—remains at large.
Separately, Dhaka Metropolitan Police spokesperson Talebur Rahman said on Wednesday that four blank cheques worth over Tk 20 million had been recovered from another flat used by Riyad in West Rajabazar. Issued by a company named Trade Zone, the cheques include two for Tk 10 million each, one for Tk 1.5 million, and another for Tk 1 million.
Trade Zone, based in Kalabagan, is reportedly linked to former Rangpur MP Abul Kalam Azad. Police allege that Riyad coerced the company into handing over the cheques.
According to investigators, Riyad has admitted to receiving Tk 500,000 of the Tk 1 million extorted from Shammi Ahmed’s residence, with the rest allegedly distributed among other members of the group.
Police said the recovered Tk 298,000 will be shown as evidence and that they are now investigating a Southeast Bank account registered in Riyad’s name.
Officials further alleged that following the fall of the Awami League government, Riyad and Apu formed a criminal group involved in land grabbing, intimidation, and extortion—activities that became their primary source of income.
While the Dhaka Metropolitan Police said Kalabagan police were preparing a case over the recovered cheques, no formal complaint had been lodged as of Thursday evening. Kalabagan Police Station chief Fazle Ashiq confirmed that they had yet to receive an official report.
Efforts to reach former MP Azad and the manager of Trade Zone for comment were unsuccessful.
Police also arrested four other individuals on Saturday, allegedly linked to Students Against Discrimination: Md Sakadaun Siam (22), Sadman Sadab (21), and Ibrahim Hossain (24). Riyad, 25, is said to be the acting convenor of the group’s United International University unit, while Ibrahim led its Dhaka Metropolitan chapter. Siam and Sadab were members.
The group has since expelled Ibrahim, Siam, and Sadab permanently.
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