Extortionists target doctors and engineers after Hundi failure; Home Minister issues zero tolerance
Extortionists Target Doctors After Hundi Losses
- Criminals targeting doctors and engineers after suffering losses in overseas Hundi trade.
- Four members, including the mastermind, arrested within 48 hours for attacking a physician.
- Home Minister warns of zero tolerance against extortionists and negligent enforcement officers.
After sustaining severe financial losses in overseas Hundi operations, a criminal syndicate returned to Bangladesh and began targeting prominent doctors, engineers, and wealthy professionals for large-scale extortion through intimidation and physical attacks. Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmad revealed these findings while visiting injured physician Prof. Dr. Md. Asadur Rahman at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH).
Dr. Asadur Rahman was brutally attacked by the extortion ring outside Popular Hospital in Shantinagar on the night of August 17. Within 48 hours of the incident, law enforcement agencies successfully arrested four key members of the seven-member gang, including its mastermind, from various locations including Lakshmipur, Jatrabari, Satarkul, and the crime scene. The Minister commended the Police and Detective Branch (DB) for their swift operational success.
The Home Minister issued a stern directive to law enforcement agencies across Bangladesh, particularly in metro areas, to immediately apprehend all identified terrorists, extortionists, and drug dealers. He warned that a "zero tolerance policy" would be strictly applied against police officers who fail to act or are found aiding these criminal elements.
To ensure healthcare safety, the government is deploying 10 Ansar members to each of 500 hospitals nationwide. Additionally, the Minister stated that if any doctor facing security threats applies for a personal firearm license under existing legal provisions, the government will evaluate it with high priority.
Social Welfare Minister Prof. Dr. A Z M Zahid Hossain, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Md. Ali Hossain Fakir, DMP Commissioner Mosleh Uddin Ahmad, DB Chief Md. Shafiqul Islam, and DMCH Director Brig. Gen. Md. Asaduzzaman were present during the visit. The Home Minister later visited Dr. A K M Aminul Haq at Anwer Khan Modern Hospital, who was also threatened by the same extortion syndicate.
//DBTech/FHP/MIS//
