Ex-minister Adv Qamrul on 4-day remand in extortion cases

A Dhaka court has placed former food minister Adv Qamrul Islam on a total of four-day remand in two extortion cases filed with the Kamrangirchar Police Station.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Belal Hossain passed the order on Wednesday as police produced the former minister before the court and pleaded to place him on a 10-day remand in each of the cases. The defence, however, argued for his bail.

After hearing both sides, the court placed Qamrul on a two-day remand in each of the cases.

Adv Qamrul Islam was arrested from a house in the capital's Uttara-12 area on November 18, 2024.

One Sagir Ahmed Sujon filed one case against 14 people including Qamrul for demanding Taka one crore in extortion. In spite of paying them Taka 20 lakh, the accused on September 24, 2023, vandalised and looted his house. The complainant on September 4, 2024, filed the case in this connection.

Meanwhile, one Ali Ahammed filed the other case against 11 people including Adv Qamrul Islam for demanding Taka 20 lakh from him in extortion in 2020. When he refused to pay the money, the accused threatened him by holding a pistol on his chest and assaulted him. Ali on September 7, 2024, filed the case in this connection.