Following Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s resignation and the dissolution of Parliament, widespread violence, vandalism, and looting have erupted across the country. Extortion activities, particularly in the capital and other regions, have increased as new individuals attempt to capitalize on the political upheaval. However, the public has been actively detaining these extortionists and turning them over to the military.
On Wednesday, two such incidents were reported in the capital. In one case, a person was apprehended while attempting extortion near the Lal Kuthi Ghat area in Old Dhaka. Students from Jagannath University, upon receiving information, captured the extortionist and handed him over to the military. In an effort to recover the extortionist, a person posing as a member of the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal was also detained and handed over to the army by the students later in the evening.
Another incident occurred in the Agargaon area of Dhaka, where another extortionist was caught and handed over to the military. Additionally, several areas of the capital, including Mohammadpur and the ECB Square, have been experiencing a wave of night-time robberies, prompting residents to organize vigilante patrols to capture and turn over robbers to the military.
Regarding the arrest of the extortionists at Sadarghat, it was reported that at around 5:30 PM on Wednesday, extortionists attacked seven students from Dhaka Collegiate School who were assigned traffic duties in the Sadarghat area. Following the attack, Jagannath University students intervened, captured one of the extortionists, and brought him to their campus. The extortionist was briefly restrained at the campus gate. It was reported that the captured individual and his associates were extorting money from local businesses in the area. The extortionists had previously assaulted the students, who were then held captive by the extortionists before being rescued.