Pay toll or die, Khulna outlaws making calls

The death threat was given to Kazi Mahbub-e-Alam, over phone at 10-30 am on Thursday at his office.

The caller identified himself as an armed cadre of Janajuddho faction of outlawed PBCP (Purba Banglar Communist Party).

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Talking to this correspondent, the DGM said had received a call over the same phone at 3-30 pm on June 6, demanding Tk five lakh. The caller had demanded payment by June 8. The caller had identified as a member of the same outlawed party.

DGM Mahbub-e-Alam filed a general diary with Khulna thana at 2-30 pm on Thursday seeking security.

In another incident, the Demonstrator at Forestry Department at Khulna University, Mohammod Fazlul Huq, received similar death threat five days ago from an 'armed cadre' of PBCP Janajuddho, also for delaying in payment of Tk 10,000 as toll. He did not file a general diary with Khulna thana fearing reprisal.

"We are aware of sudden rise of extremists in Khulna city who are demanding tolls from bankers and businessman, contractors and fish traders, physicians and engineers", said Akbar Ali, Deputy Commissioner (HQ) of Khulna Metropolitan Police.

"We are checking and rechecking information", he said.

He claimed that tolls are being demanded and death threats given by Shoiab, Shumon and Haroon, three top leaders of Khulna-Bagerhat regional unit of PBCP Janajuddho faction.

A shrimp exporter told this correspondent that extremists have demanded Tk one lakh from him, to be paid by June13, or to be ready to die.

Extremists have also demanded Tk 50,000 from an eminent physician at South Central Road under Khulna thana, sources said.

Sources in intelligence agencies confirmed an information that contractors have to pay tolls to extremists after cashing their bills to avoid death threat.

"I do not believe that extremists are demanding tolls. Their names are being used by other persons", said Khulna Police Superintendent Habibur Rahman.

He did not want to clarify who are these 'other persons' using names of extremists for tolls.