Ex-BCL leader arrested for 'extortion'

6 February 2009, 18:00 PM

Our Correspondent, Dinajpur

Police has arrested a former leader of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) on charge of extortion. The arrestee, Foysal Alam Biggan of village Natun Bazar Kholahati under Parbatipur upazila of Dinajpur, was held from Haldibari Bazaar under Parbatirpur Sadar upazila on Thursday following allegations from the operators at Parbatipur Petroleum Depot. During the last seven days, Biggan had been threatening operators at Parbatipur Petroleum Depot, a hub of largest oil operators including Padma, Jamuna and Meghna, of dire consequences if they fail to give them toll as per his demand, police said. As the operators declined to meet his demand, Biggan made a call over cell phone, asked them to come to Parbatipur AL office on Thursday evening with Tk 5 lakh and threatened them to kill in case of failure, said a staff of the oil depot seeking anonymity. Biggan faces about 10 cases including those for murder, extortion, and abduction, police said, adding that lobbying started for release of the former BCL leader soon after his arrest. Biggan, who went into hiding after declaration of the state of emergency in January last year, returned to the area prior to the December 29 national election and actively worked for AL nominated candidate Md Mostafizur Rahman Fizar, said police and locals of Parbatipur upazila.