Police Reform Commission Member Arrested in Gulshan on Extortion Charges: Mahin Sarkar’s Facebook Post

On Saturday night, Abdur Razzak bin Sulaiman, a member of the Police Reform Commission, was arrested in Dhaka’s Gulshan area on charges of extortion at the residence of Awami League leader and former parliamentarian Shammi Ahmed.

Mahin Sarkar, Joint General Secretary of the National Citizen Party (NCP), shared this information in a Facebook post on Sunday morning.

Five individuals, including Razzak, were detained in Gulshan on Saturday night. Police stated that all of them are associated with the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement. Later that night, the organization issued a statement announcing the permanent expulsion of Ibrahim Hossain Munna, the convener of its Dhaka Metropolitan Branch, along with members Sakadaun Siyam and Sadab, for engaging in activities that violated the organization’s policies and discipline. In a separate emergency statement, the Democratic Student Parliament announced the permanent expulsion of two of its leaders: Central Joint Convener Jane Alam Apu and member Abdur Razzak bin Sulaiman. Notably, Razzak’s Facebook profile includes the name “Riyad” in parentheses, which matches one of the names initially mentioned by police among the five detainees. The Democratic Student Parliament was formed in February by a faction of former coordinators of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement. Below is the full text of Mahin Sarkar’s Facebook post: “The boy named Abdur Razzak, who was arrested for extortion, is a member of the Police Reform Commission. In other words, he is a listed student representative in one of the most critical ministries. Given the culture in Bangladesh, someone with such a connection to the Home Ministry could potentially profit from that identity alone. It is crucial to investigate how someone like him was recommended for such an important position in the Police Reform Commission under the Home Ministry. This is something I strongly demand. The boy named Jane Alam Apu has long been vocal against corruption, often to the point of arrogance. Numerous allegations against him have surfaced in his home district, Joypurhat, as I was responsible for the Rajshahi division. Despite their demands not aligning with the cause, he and a few others protested a private university student’s murder and increased their visits to the Home Ministry. It wouldn’t be surprising if allegations emerged against not just Jane Alam Apu but also one or two others around him. Most notably, Ibrahim Hossain Munna played a leading role in this extortion. His involvement has completely undermined the legitimacy of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement banner. He previously played a key role in organizing the Dhaka Metropolitan Committee of the movement. Most shockingly, in the recent election of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, he ran for a top position in the organizational structure but later claimed someone else was selected in his place, using this as an excuse to avoid taking responsibility. I have never witnessed such bizarre behavior in my life. Ibrahim Hossain Munna’s name is centrally connected, as is Jane Alam Apu, the joint convener of the Democratic Student Parliament. It’s not surprising that they have good relations with many. It is critical to interrogate them in custody to uncover the real culprits, as the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement banner is a historic one. I have previously stated that this banner is no longer necessary, even though I played a role in its establishment.”