OC extorts money from 196 factories in Sitakunda

About Tk 15 million is being extorted every month from various factories and establishments in Sitakunda industrial area in Chattogram, according to the internal investigation of police and Prothom Alo investigation.

Allegations have been raised against Sitakunda police station officer-in-charge Tofael Ahmed, who collects between Tk 2,000 and Tk 100,000 from the establishments.

The OC allegedly extorts from 196 industrial and various other establishments, including those involved with selling smuggled fuel oil, drum factories, scrapped iron and the transport drivers.

Prothom Alo has talked to owners of 11 factories and officials who are victims of extortion.

Owners and officials of nine factories said they have been extorted forcefully while one factory owner denied this and another owner of a factory said he does not need to give money as he has shut the establishment.

Factory owners and officials declined to disclose their names in fear of police harassment. They, however, have said that they are extorted on the plea of various events. They even have to give money for “the development of the police station”.

Shopkeepers and transport drivers also made the same allegations.

This correspondent went to Sitakunda police station on Monday to talk about the allegations. When this correspondent wanted to talk to OC Tofael Ahmed, he was asked to wait. Later, the OC left the police station hurriedly in a vehicle.

After sending a text message, OC Tofael on Monday afternoon phoned the correspondent and said he is in Sitakunda police station for 14 months.

He claimed that he did not extort money from the owners of mills and factories. He is not responsible if anyone does so using his name.

The factory owners, however, rejected OC Tofael’s claim and said it is the OC who sends people for extortion. They further expressed it is the responsibility of the police to stop extortion if anyone does this in the name of police.

The factory owners also informed Prothom Alo that the extortion has been going on for a long time. Only the politically influential factory owners do not need to pay any money.

The Sitakunda area in the port city is an industrial area. There are several hundred large and medium sized industries in the area.

A source in the police provided Prothom Alo a list of the 196 factories that are subjected to extortion. The list also contained details about how much money an establishment pays.

It shows the amount of extortion per month is from Tk 20,000 to Tk 100,000. As many as 119 companies pay between Tk 60,000 to Tk 100,000 as extortion.

Besides, Tk 20,000- Tk 50,000 is taken every month from 77 companies. In all, the OC collects around Tk 13 million every month from these factories.

Four police members, led by sub-inspector (SI) Nasir Uddin Bhuiyan, collect the money from the factories within the first 10 days of the month on behalf of the OC, reveals a Prothom Alo investigation.

However, SI Nasir Uddin Bhuiyan claimed to Prothom Alo that he is not involved in collecting the extortion money from factories. The opportunity to collect one-time money appears whenever there is an accident where a worker dies or in case of labour agitation in any factory.

There are allegations that in the case of the death of a worker, shipwreck companies must pay the OC before handing over the body to the respective family. The amount of extortion varies between Tk 200,000 and Tk 1 million depending on the seriousness of the incident.

The owners and workers allege that the families of the victim get only a little portion of the money taken by the police. In exchange, police cover up the case by showing the death of the worker as a natural-death.

Speaking to Prothom Alo, Bangladesh Free Trade Union Congress Chattogram general secretary KM Shahidullah said, “The families of the victims are supposed to get compensation in case of an accident in industries. However, they never get proper compensation. Besides, the incidents get covered up in various ways.”