Jamaat Leader Remanded to Custody in Satkhira Extortion Case

A local court in Satkhira has remanded a Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami leader and his associate to judicial custody in connection with an extortion and assault case involving an internationally funded embankment construction project.

Haji Mohammad Nazrul Islam, who serves as the chairman of the Burigoalini Union Parishad under Shyamnagar Upazila, alongside his associate Bishwajit Mondal, surrendered to the court following the expiry of their interim bail granted by the High Court Division. On Monday, 10 August, the accused presented themselves before the Chief Judicial Magistrate’s Court of Satkhira to seek an extension of their bail.

Following a detailed hearing, Chief Judicial Magistrate Mohammad Saidur Rahman rejected the bail petitions and ordered both individuals to be dispatched to jail.

Background and Allegations

Representing the plaintiff, advocate Pabitra Kumar stated that releasing the key suspects on bail posed a severe risk to the ongoing execution of the public infrastructure scheme. The prosecution argued that the presence of the accused on bail could lead to further obstruction and intimidation on site.

The charges stem from a case filed on the night of 25 May by Mohammad Jalal Uddin, the legal officer for R-Rad Corporation—the private contractor tasked with executing the project. According to the First Information Report (FIR) lodged with the Shyamnagar Police Station, Chairman Nazrul Islam was named as the primary accused. The FIR also named his son, Abdur Rahman, alongside Bishwajit Mondal and an additional 20 to 25 unnamed co-conspirators.

The dispute centres on the construction of a critical flood-control embankment in the East Durgabati area under Shyamnagar Upazila. Funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and executed under the auspices of the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB), the infrastructure project is designed to protect vulnerable coastal communities from river bank erosion, tidal surges, and seasonal cyclone damage.

Key Details of the Dispute

• Project Authority: Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB)

• Funding Organisation: Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)

• Contracting Firm: R-Rad Corporation

• Location: East Durgabati, Burigoalini Union, Shyamnagar, Satkhira

• Primary Accused: Haji Mohammad Nazrul Islam (Union Parishad Chairman)

• Co-Accused: Abdur Rahman (Son of Chairman), Bishwajit Mondal, and 20–25 unnamed individuals

• Date of FIR: 25 May

• Filing Station: Shyamnagar Police Station

• Plaintiff: Mohammad Jalal Uddin (Legal Officer, R-Rad Corporation)

• Key Charges: Systematic extortion demands, physical assault on project engineers, and forced stoppage of public works

Defense Claims and Courtroom Incident

The prosecution contends that Chairman Nazrul Islam and his associates had been demanding unlawful monetary cuts from the contractor for an extended period. The situation escalated when engineering personnel on site were allegedly subjected to physical violence, leading to a temporary suspension of civil works.

Rejecting all allegations, Haji Mohammad Nazrul Islam maintained his innocence, claiming that the charges were entirely fabricated and politically motivated to tarnish his reputation.

Drama also unfolded within the court premises following the ruling. Saiful Islam, the younger son of the Union Parishad chairman, allegedly harassed press reporters and photojournalists attempting to document the event. Witnesses reported that he aggressively knocked down cameras and mobile phones held by media personnel while they were gathering footage of the accused being escorted to prison. Local journalist associations have expressed strong disapproval of the incident, demanding an investigation into the hostility faced by working reporters on the court grounds.