Shariatpur Sadar Upazila Angaria Union Parishad (UP) chairman Anwar Hossain Hawlader has been arrested in an extortion case on Monday. A contractor named Md Matiur Rahman Mamun filed a case against Anwar Hossain at the Palang Model Police Station on April 16, after the chairman demanded extortion money of Tk 5 lakh from the contractor.
The accused chairman was arrested from Angaria area at 9 am on Monday. He was arrested by Palang Model Police Station Sub-Inspector Rupukar. Mojibar Sardar, the side manager of the plaintiff contractor in the case, and his brother Emdad Sardar were beaten and seriously injured on April 10 by order of Chairman Anwar Hossain Hawladar.
Including chairman Anwar, a total of 14 people were made accused in the case. Among the accused, Aizul Hawlader and Mohsin Hawlader are already accused in the murder case of madrasa student Osman. The accused Aizul Hawlader is also accused in an extortion case filed by Maskuda Begum, wife of Safayet Sheikh of Ghosherchar Uttar Para village in Golganj district.
According to the statement of the plaintiff, victim Mojibar Sardar, Emdad Sardar and local sources, Matiur Rahman Mamun, the contractor of the Water Development Board, through the Shariatpur Water Development Board, was appointed to dig 2,800 meters of canal from Dadpur Bara Madrasa to TulatlaKatakhali Canal.
After finishing the canal excavation, the contractor took away the remaining residual or unused land. Then Chairman Anwar Hossain Hawladar prevented the contractor's side manager Mojibar from taking the land and said he would have to pay Tk 5 lakh as extortion money to take the land.
After discussing the matter with the upazila administration, the contractor paid Tk 1 lakh 9 thousand to the government treasury for the purchase of land. Chairman Anwar Hossain Hawladar, unable to accept the matter, assaulted the contractor's manager Mojibar and his brother Emdad with the help of other accused and injured them.
Seriously injured Emdad Sardar is still undergoing treatment at ShariatpurSadar Hospital. The plaintiff Matiur Rahman Mamun said, “Chairman Anwar Hossain has brought this task of digging the canal by lobbying. It costed him taka 5 lakh. The chairman came to my manager and demanded taka 5 lakh and warned us not to work without giving him the money.
The work was halted for 10 days. Later, I informed the Upazila Nirbahi Officer about this matter and deposited 1 lakh 9 thousand taka in the government treasury for the purchase of surplus land. Later, UNO sir told me to work andfurther said he will provide me with legal assistance if there is any kind of obstruction in my work.”
Then after the canal digging started again, Anwar Hossaincame with the accused in other extortion and murder cases and attacked Matiur Rahman’s manager and his brother for not giving him the extortion money of Tk 5 lakh.
Palang Model Police Sub-Inspector and Investigation Officer Rupkar said, “Angaria UP chairman obstructed the excavation of government canal by demanding extortion money.The chairman then beats up the contractor's manager and brother.
A case has been filed on this regard. Angaria UP chairman Anwar Hossain Hawlader, the main accused in the case, was arrested and sent to court on Monday. Attempts to arrest the other accused will continue.”