Sakadaun Siam and his younger brother Sadman Sadab were once known in their community for their dedication to education. Both were private tutors, financing their own university studies through tuition jobs. Hailing from an ordinary background, the brothers were admired for their discipline and academic aspirations. But a few months ago, they abruptly abandoned their tutoring. Soon, shocking news spread: the two had been arrested for extortion in the capital’s upscale Gulshan area.
According to sources, both brothers are students at Presidency University in Dhaka. Their ancestral home is in Gopalpur, Natore, but they currently live with their family in Rajshahi. Their father, SM Kabiruzzaman, is an employee at a gas filling station and has long struggled to support the family.
On 27 July, police arrested five individuals from the home of Shammi Ahmed, an Awami League leader and former Member of Parliament, in Gulshan on charges of attempting to collect extortion money. Among the detainees were Siam and Sadab.
Gulshan Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Hafizur Rahman stated:
“They demanded Tk 10 million. When they arrived to collect the money, they were arrested.”
The police revealed that the brothers had previously extracted Tk 1 million under the guise of being ‘coordinators’, and had returned to demand more.
Family and Community in Shock
The arrest deeply devastated their father.
“My income is minimal. By the end of the month, it’s a struggle to cover my sons’ tuition fees. They used to teach others, now they’re involved in politics,” he said, distraught.
“They prayed five times a day, kept beards… I never imagined they could do such a thing.”
The brothers had completed both their SSC and HSC from Khar-Khari High School in Rajshahi.
A former teacher and local political figure, Mobasher Ali, expressed disbelief:
“They were bright students of our school. It’s unimaginable that they could be involved in such activities.”
Legal Proceedings and Political Fallout
Following their arrest, Siam, Sadab, Ibrahim Hossain Munna, and Abdur Razzak alias Riyad were all placed on seven-day police remand. All four were actively involved in student organisations:
- Anti-Discrimination Student Movement (বৈষম্যবিরোধীছাত্র আন্দোলন)
- Democratic Student Union (বাংলাদেশগণতান্ত্রিক ছাত্র সংসদ)
Their respective organisations have expelled them following their alleged involvement in the extortion case.
Photos circulating on social media show Siam and Sadab appearing frequently alongside Riyad, suggesting a close personal connection.
Community Reaction
Residents of Rajshahi have expressed their dismay.
They questioned how young students, once devoted to education and civic engagement, could suddenly take such a controversial path.
“It’s difficult to understand how active student leaders ended up like this,” a local resident remarked.
This incident has sparked wider debate on the radical shifts in student politics, raising questions about how easily idealistic youth can be derailed.
