Local Labour Wing Leader Accused of Horrific Extortion Torture

A 30-year-old businessman from Sreepur, Gazipur, is undergoing emergency treatment in hospital under police custody after allegedly enduring a night of brutal torture at the hands of a local Shramik Dal leader and his associates over an unpaid extortion demand.

The victim, Sajeeb Mia, son of Kafil Uddin from Tepirbari Deochala village in Telihati Union, suffered catastrophic injuries during the ordeal. According to his family, his captors heated iron rods on a gas stove and inflicted severe burns on at least 100 places across his body, while also fracturing his arms, legs, and waist before handing him over to the police under false pretences.

Extortion Demand Escalates into Kidnapping

The harrowing sequence of events began on the night of 21 July at approximately 10:30 pm at MC Bazar. Sajeeb’s father, Kafil Uddin, stated that Sharif Sarkar, a 43-year-old member of the Gazipur District Shramik Dal convenor committee, arrived at Sajeeb’s business establishment accompanied by a group of men.

Sharif, a resident of Maona village, allegedly demanded 10 lakh taka (1 million BDT) in extortion money. When Sajeeb refused to comply with the demand, the gang launched an immediate assault, beating him indiscriminately with iron rods and wooden sticks.

The attackers then forced Sajeeb into a private car and transported him to a makeshift torture cell located beneath Sharif’s residence near the Swapnapuri Hotel. Upon learning of his son’s abduction around midnight, Kafil Uddin searched several locations before discovering Sajeeb being tortured behind the hotel. When Sajeeb’s cousin, Anis, attempted to intervene, he was also assaulted by the gang.

Torture, False Allegations, and Medical Emergency

Throughout the night, the gang subjected Sajeeb to prolonged physical abuse. As dawn approached, his captors summoned the police, handing him over while claiming he was a local Awami League politician implicated in an ongoing murder case tied to student protests.

His family strongly refutes the political designation. While Sajeeb managed the business operations of an individual associated with the Awami League, his family maintains he holds no personal political affiliations.

Recognising the critical nature of his injuries, police officers escorted Sajeeb under guard to the Sreepur Upazila Health Complex. Attending doctors immediately transferred him to the Shahid Tajuddin Ahmad Medical College Hospital in Gazipur due to his precarious condition.

Describing the extent of the brutality, Sajeeb’s mother, Khaleda Akhtar, expressed her anguish:

Khaleda Akhtar, Victim’s Mother: “There is not an inch of my son’s body left untouched by violence. They heated iron rods on a gas stove and burned him in at least 100 places. They broke his arms, legs, and waist. His condition is extremely critical. We could not even lodge an immediate written complaint at the police station because of their continuous threats.”

Court Rejection and Law Enforcement Response

On Thursday, police produced Sajeeb in court, attempting to process his arrest in connection with the anti-discrimination movement murder case. However, the presiding judge refused to accept the suspect owing to his severe physical trauma, directing that he remain under police guard while receiving necessary medical care.

Responding to the allegations, Sharif Sarkar denied personal involvement in the torture, claiming that local political activists merely detained Sajeeb because of his alleged involvement in the murder case before surrendering him to the authorities.

Law enforcement officials have acknowledged the gravity of the assault. Sub-Inspector (SI) Arup Kumar confirmed rescuing Sajeeb in a critically injured state from the MC Bazar area while on night duty.

Mohammad Shahinur Alam, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Sreepur Police Station, confirmed the ongoing investigation:

Mohammad Shahinur Alam, Officer-in-Charge: “Sajeeb was subjected to severe physical assault. He remains under police custody at the hospital, and the court is fully aware of his medical state. While it is true that Sajeeb is named as an accused in the anti-discrimination murder case, that does not justify such vigilante violence.”

The victim’s mother has since submitted a formal written complaint to Sreepur Police Station. Abul Kalam Pradhan, Member Secretary of the District Shramik Dal, distance the organisation from the accused, stating that the political wing would not take responsibility for individual misdeeds and promising organizational action following an internal inquiry.