Police in Dhaka have apprehended three men for allegedly posing as personnel from the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI) to extort money from a local resident.
The arrests were carried out by a patrol team from the Uttara East Police Station following an emergency response initiated via the national emergency helpline, 999.
The Extortion Scheme
The incident occurred inside a 10th-floor apartment in Road 3, Sector 4 of Dhaka’s Uttara area. The suspect trio entered the home of resident Kaiyum Shahriar Zahedi, presenting themselves as officers from the nation’s premier military intelligence agency.
To intimidate the homeowner, the impostors claimed that legal cases were pending against him. Leveraging the fear of military prosecution, they demanded a sum of 10 lakh taka to “settle” the fictitious allegations.
Fearing immediate repercussion, the victim handed over 1,59,000 taka in cash. However, as the men continued their demands, their suspicious behaviour prompted the homeowner to dial the national emergency number once they stepped away.
Police Intervention and Seizures
A response team from Uttara East Police Station arrived shortly after the call. Upon inspection, officers examined an identity card presented by one of the suspects, which purported to confirm his affiliation with the intelligence agency.
Under detailed questioning, the men failed to verify their credentials and subsequently confessed to fabricating their identities to carry out extortion.
According to Deputy Commissioner of Police (Media and Public Relations) Md. Akhtar Hossain, the arrested individuals have been identified as:
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Md. Russel Mahbub (alias Masum), aged 42
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Sohel Mirza, aged 41
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Md. Sojib, aged 36
Officers seized a range of paraphernalia used to facilitate the scam:
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A fake DGFI identity card
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One Suzuki Gixxer motorcycle
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Cash amounting to 1,59,000 taka
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A walkie-talkie set
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One pair of handcuffs
Legal Action
A formal case has been registered against the trio at Uttara East Police Station. Law enforcement authorities confirmed that legal proceedings are underway to produce the suspects before the court for trial.
This arrest highlights a growing concern over extortion rackets targeting urban residents by exploiting the authority of state security agencies. Police officials reiterated their advice for citizens to verify the credentials of anyone claiming official authority and to report suspicious encounters immediately using emergency services.
