Extortionists pushing Rupsha shrimp plants towards 'closure'

Talking to this correspondent yesterday, some of the owners alleged that BNP armed men are also not allowing renovation of their factories in view of the planned visit by two inspection teams from EU and the USA, likely in February or March next year.

There are 18 shrimps processing plants in Rupsha upazil, according to sources in Khulna unit of Bangladesh Frozen Food Exporters' Association. All those factories are export oriented.

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It is alleged that armed men loyal to Rupsha upazila BNP Senior Vice-president Mohiuddin Shaikh have given 'death threat' to the managing director of Modern Sea Foods Ltd Alhaj Md Rezaul Huq for not paying toll, demanded monthly.

Rezaul Huq has also been threatened not to do any renovation work at his plant before toll payment.

Huq has submitted written complaints to the local police station and the Joint Forces camp seeking "security of life from BNP vice president Mohiuddin Shaikh and his armed cadres".

He has also appealed for action against the toll collectors to "save shrimp processing plants in Rupsha from being closed.

"BNP cadres have forced me to suspend production and renovation of my factory as I refused to pay tolls", Huq aid said in his complaint.

Other shrimp exporters in Khulna have sharply reacted to this incident. They have appealed to the Prime Minister and the Home Minister to intervene to save shrimp exporting industries from the hands of ruling party cadres and outlaws. Otherwise, they will be compelled to closecdown business, they said.

Rupsha upzilla BNP leader Mohiuddin Shaikh at a press conference refuted the allegation.

The BNP leader in written statement accused Rezaul Huq of grabbing his paternal land by force for construction of the factory.

Besides, the shrimp exporter (Huq) grabbed government land now being used for expansion of Modern Sea Foods, the BNP leader alleged.

None from BNP ever demanded toll from the shrimp exporter, he said.