Allegations of Fish Looting from Pond Against BNP Leader for Not Receiving Extortion Money

In Tarash, Sirajganj, allegations have surfaced against a BNP leader named Aminur Rahman, also known as Tutul, for looting fish from a 32-bigha pond after failing to secure extortion money. The accused, Aminur Rahman, was the general secretary of the recently dissolved Tarash Upazila BNP committee.

On July 18, a man named Abdus Salam filed a written complaint at Tarash Police Station, followed by another complaint to the district administration on July 23. Abdus Salam, a resident of Bahirgola in Sirajganj municipality, is a fish trader by profession.

According to the written complaint and local sources, Abdus Salam had sub-leased a 32-bigha pond named "Sanghai Dighi" in Madhainagar Sanghai Para village under the Nimghachi community-based fisheries project. The lease is valid until 2027. Recently, Aminur Rahman, the former general secretary of Tarash Upazila BNP, sent people to demand Tk 20 lakh as extortion from Salam. When Salam refused to pay, Aminur’s associates threatened to prevent him from continuing fish farming.

Despite informing the pond’s beneficiaries and local dignitaries, no resolution was reached. Subsequently, on Thursday at around 5 a.m., a group allegedly led by Aminur Rahman cast nets in the pond and looted fish. On the following Monday afternoon, they returned and looted more fish.

Demanding a proper investigation and compensation, Abdus Salam told Prothom Alo that at least 16 people, led by Aminur Rahman, looted fish worth approximately Tk 30 lakh in two phases. He claimed that Aminur had previously demanded Tk 20 lakh through his cousin Shamim Hossain. Salam stated, “They looted the fish from my sub-leased pond because I refused to pay the extortion money. After filing a complaint at the police station yielded no results, I was compelled to lodge complaints with the district administration, police superintendent, and other authorities.”

Denying the extortion allegations, BNP leader Aminur Rahman said, “The lease period for the sub-leased pond should have expired by now. I have no knowledge of who took the fish from the pond if the lease was no longer valid.”

The Officer-in-Charge of Tarash Police Station, Ziaur Rahman, told that, “We have received a written complaint regarding this incident, and an investigation is underway.”

When the issue was brought to his attention, Sirajganj District BNP General Secretary Saidur Rahman told Prothom Alo that if any BNP member is found to be involved, organizational action will be taken following a thorough investigation.