Extortion threats also coming from Singapore, Malaysia, and Dubai

Extortion threats targeting reconditioned car dealers in the capital have expanded beyond local borders, with perpetrators now operating from Singapore, Malaysia, and Dubai. 

According to law enforcement officials and affected businessmen, these criminals are making threatening calls from abroad, demanding large sums of money and instilling fear among their targets.

Over the past six months, at least 40 car dealers have received extortion calls, with some threats escalating to include promises of kidnapping family members if payments are not made. 

Six businessmen have formally lodged complaints with Bhatara Police Station. 

The majority of the targeted showrooms are located in Pragati Sarani, Baridhara, and nearby areas of the capital.

Daily Samakal interviewed four affected businessmen, who reported receiving calls from foreign numbers demanding between Tk 5 lakh and Tk 50 lakh. 

The callers often referenced personal details, such as the schools attended by the dealers’ children, to intensify their threats. 

In most cases, an individual identifying himself as Kashem Dwip has been linked to the extortion demands, while others have mentioned names like Dada Binodh and Patka Babu. 

Police investigations indicate that Dwip operates from outside the country.

Abdul Haque, president of the Bangladesh Reconditioned Vehicles Importers and Dealers Association (BARVIDA), expressed alarm over the unprecedented wave of threats. 

“In all my years in the car business, we’ve never faced such continuous threats. Initially, I thought it was just pranksters, but then they started throwing cocktails at showrooms. So far, 40 dealers have been targeted. A man named Dwip, based in Dubai, is orchestrating these mafia-style threats, claiming to be a former Jubo League leader. We’ve raised this with senior police officials, but the threats and intimidation persist. Last Sunday, we were compelled to form a human chain to protest,” he said.

On October 15, a cocktail explosion occurred outside Beg Autos in Baridhara, linked to an extortion demand. This incident marked the 12th such attack on car showrooms. 

As of Tuesday, no arrests have been made in connection with these incidents. 

Dhaka Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner (Media) Talebur Rahman stated that the police would investigate any specific complaints about extortion.

Sophisticated Extortion Tactics 

In a separate case, Ali Nur Islam Jiban, owner of Proxima Buying House, was taken hostage in Bashundhara residential area on October 13. 

The perpetrators, a three-member gang, initially demanded Tk 20 lakh as ransom but later reduced their demand to Tk 10 lakh. 

Unable to pay immediately, Jiban was robbed of Tk 75,000 from his mobile banking account, Tk 1 lakh in cash, three mobile phones, a laptop, and a Toyota car. Following a complaint filed at Bhatara Police Station, the police recovered the stolen vehicle from Jessore on Tuesday.

Inspector Mostafizur Rahman of Bhatara Police Station reported that the gang’s leader, Niazur Rahman, and his wife were apprehended in Jessore. 

Niazur, a former student of North South University’s English department, and his wife, a Shanto-Mariam University graduate, are linked to two similar cases, he dded.

Authorities believe they are part of a sophisticated extortion ring targeting businessmen with innovative methods. 

Investigations are ongoing to identify other members of the group.

On Tuesday night, Ali Nur Islam recounted his ordeal, explaining that he was lured to a house in Bashundhara under the pretense of viewing samples. There, Niazur held him at gunpoint, demanding Tk 20 lakh. During a struggle, Jiban was stabbed.

Challenges in Investigation 

According to business sources, the affected showrooms include Car Selection, Beg Autos, Turbo Auto, Hello Cars, Bismillah Cars, Ocean Motors, LNB Cars, Biswas Importers, and Wali Cars. 

Police officers involved in the investigation noted that the threatening calls originate from foreign numbers, and the motorcycles used in cocktail attacks bear fake license plates. 

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s cyber crime unit is assisting in the investigation, but technical limitations hinder progress in identifying the perpetrators.

One officer admitted that the police lack the resources for advanced technical investigations, often stalling their efforts. 

Additionally, law enforcement faces multiple challenges, including maintaining public order amid banned Awami League processions, conducting raids related to the July movement cases, and addressing frequent road blockades and protests. 

The emergence of new criminal elements further complicates efforts to gather intelligence and enforce the law.

The ongoing extortion campaign, marked by its international reach and violent tactics, continues to pose a significant threat to the capital’s reconditioned car industry, with authorities struggling to curb the rising tide of organised crime.