2 CMP officers accused of extorting cash, cryptocurrency from Chattogram businessman

Two officers of Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP) have been accused of detaining a businessman and his friend, threatening to implicate them in a gambling case, and extorting cash and cryptocurrency from them.

The officers are Assistant Commissioner Shariful Alam Sujon of CMP’s Law and Order Intelligence Cell (LIC) and Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Bashir Uddin, a member of his team.

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According to the two victims and a police source, the plainclothes officers picked up businessman Akhtaruzzaman Shakil, 27, and his friend Mansur Ali from a house in K Block of Halishahar in the port city on the morning of September 4. They took the two men and Shakil’s Toyota Corolla to the LIC office.

The victims alleged that the officers seized their mobile phones, searched them and transferred personal information and photographs to another device.

Talking to The Daily Star on Monday, Shakil said the officers threatened to leak private photographs of him and his girlfriend and implicate them in a gambling case. He alleged that AC Shariful and his team then forced him to transfer $10,864 (around Tk 13.25 lakh) from his Binance account in three transactions.

Shakil further alleged that three constables took him to a bank booth near CMP around 10:40pm on September 4 and made him withdraw Tk 4 lakh in five transactions. Mobile notifications reviewed by The Daily Star show five withdrawals of Tk 80,000 each between 10:52pm and 10:58pm.

He also alleged that Tk 80,000 was transferred from a mobile financial account while he was at the LIC office.

Talking to The Daily Star on Tuesday, Mansur alleged that the officers initially demanded Tk 1 crore, threatening to implicate them in a gambling case.

He said Shakil eventually agreed to pay Tk 20 lakh out of fear, with the money and cryptocurrency handed over in instalments.

The two men said they were released around midnight after the officers wrote down their names, addresses and phone numbers on a blank sheet, obtained their signatures and recorded videos of them.

Shakil alleged that Bashir, who introduced himself as an inspector, oversaw the process. He said AC Shariful later told him, “I have let you off lightly.”

The following day, Bashir allegedly contacted them several times about returning Shakil’s car and demanded an additional Tk 5 lakh for the vehicle and their mobile phones.

Shakil said AC Shariful later asked him to pay Tk 5 lakh and, when he refused, requested an iPhone as a gift.

The car was returned on the night of September 5 without any “money or gift”. However, Shakil alleged that five of his mobile phones remained with the officers.

No case had been filed in this regard as of Wednesday morning, as both victims said they felt insecure.

Shakil introduced himself as a businessman dealing in polypropylene (PP) raw materials in Khatunganj. He also owns an agro farm in Patiya, Chattogram.

“I am also involved in trading dollars through the Binance app on online platforms,” Shakil told The Daily Star.

His friend Mansur runs a machinery-parts business in the Dewanhat area of the city, he added.

According to Bangladesh Bank, trading in cryptocurrency is not allowed in Bangladesh.

Virtual currencies [subset of virtual assets] are not approved by the central bank to settle any type of foreign exchange transaction or for investment as per the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act, 1947, according to a Bangladesh Bank notice in 2022.

The Daily Star has seen screenshots showing the cryptocurrency transfers and cash withdrawals, as well as audio and video recordings related to the incident.

However, The Daily Star could not independently verify the screenshots.

When The Daily Star visited the LIC office on Tuesday, AC Shariful was absent. Police personnel on duty confirmed that Bashir worked there and identified him as an ASI.

Repeated calls and WhatsApp messages to Shariful seeking his response went unanswered. Bashir also did not respond to calls.

When asked about the alleged abduction and extortion, CMP Commissioner Hasan Md Showkat Ali on Tuesday said, “I am on leave and am not aware of the matter. I will look into it and let you know.”

Contacted again around 4:36pm Wednesday, the CMP commissioner said, “We have heard about the incident through some sources. Whoever may be involved, we will investigate the matter. There will be no scope for anyone to get away with it. Whoever is responsible will face disciplinary action if evidence is found.”

On January 26, 2024, DB officers allegedly picked up freelancer Abu Bakkar from Bayezid Bostami and transferred bitcoins worth around Tk 1 crore from his mobile phone after threatening to implicate him in a case and kill him in a “crossfire”.

Abu’s wife later filed a case against eight police officers and others. An internal CMP investigation subsequently found the allegations to be true, following which the officers involved, including an inspector, were suspended and departmental cases were filed against them.