Extortion allegation against DSCC councilor
A large number of shop owners of Rajdhani and New Rajdhani Super Market in Tikatuli of the capital have brought allegations of
extortion against Dhaka South City Corporation ward 39 councilor Moinul Haque Monju, who is also a senior leader of the Mohanagar Awami League.
The shop owners brought the allegation at a press conference at the Dhaka
Reporters Unity auditorium yesterday afternoon. Md Shakhawat Hossain, a member of the shop owners association, read out a written statement alleging that Monju and his accomplices are collecting illegal tolls by force for the last four years. Sometimes the gang even beat up business owners and lock up shops if owners fail to pay extortion money, he said.
Now, the businessmen are afraid to continue their business as there is none to stop this anarchy. The business owners are seeking attention of the prime minister and the home minister to solve the problem and save their living, the shop owners association member said. Earlier, six of the business owners filed a general diary (GD) with the Wari Police Station on Wednesday seeking security over the alleged extortion by groups.
Tapon Kumar Saha, Officer In-charge of Wari Police Station told The Independent that some business owners of Rajdhani Super Market filed a GD. We have asked permission from the court for interrogating those invovled. We will take action if the court gives permission after a hearing on Monday, he said.
In their general diary, the business owners did not mention that the current president of the shop owners association and ruling party councilor Moinul Haque Monju was engaged in extortion. Rather, they mentioned that there are ongoing disputes among the shop owners association committees and members, he added.
A RAB team, on July 8, detained 11 AL activists while collecting illegal tolls after business owners filed a complaint with the police.
