Arrest of Alleged Journalist Over Extortion Claims

Police in Meherpur have apprehended Abdur Rauf, 45, after he allegedly attempted to extort money from the Sadar Upazila Family Planning Office by claiming to be a relative of the Health Minister and a prominent journalist. The arrest took place on Sunday, 15 March, at approximately 11:00 am, near the city bus stand. Abdur Rauf is the son of the late Sharafat Ali from the Mallikpara neighbourhood.

According to police and office sources, Rauf had been using his claimed connections for months to intimidate government officials and demand money. Since the beginning of Ramadan, he reportedly sent repeated phone calls and WhatsApp messages to the chief assistant of the Upazila Health Office, Mosharraf Hossain, and statistician Akram Hossain, demanding BDT 20,000. Failure to comply, he allegedly threatened, would have consequences. On the day of his arrest, he reportedly arrived at the office to collect the money, prompting staff to detain him and alert the authorities.

Statistician Akram Hossain stated,

“The individual consistently created psychological pressure on us, claiming to be related to the minister. This morning, when he demanded money in person, we, as colleagues, intervened and immediately informed our superiors.”

Upazila Family Planning Officer Anjuman Ara confirmed the incident, saying,

“Upon receiving reports of extortion from two of my staff members, I promptly notified the Sadar Police Station. The police arrived and took the accused into custody.”

Meherpur Sadar police officer-in-charge, Humayun Kabir, added that a formal case has been filed against Rauf for extortion, with Akram Hossain listed as the complainant. The police are currently investigating the matter.

Notably, this is not Rauf’s first encounter with law enforcement over similar allegations. Last year, he was apprehended by locals while attempting extortion at a clinic in Banshbaria, Gangni Upazila, which led to his imprisonment for an extended period.

Summary of Abdur Rauf’s Known Extortion Incidents

The arrest highlights ongoing concerns about corruption and misuse of perceived political connections in government offices. Authorities have reiterated zero tolerance for such misconduct and stressed the importance of vigilance to protect public servants from intimidation and extortion.