A list reportedly prepared by the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) identifying people allegedly involved in extortion and land or property grabbing in the capital has drawn attention to the presence of current and former BNP leaders and activists among those named.
According to a report by the English-language daily New Age, the list contains the names of 1,530 people allegedly linked to extortion and property-related activities in Dhaka. Of these, 278 people have reportedly been identified as patrons or facilitators of criminal activities.
The report says 230 of those 278 individuals are current or former members of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) or its affiliated organisations. Another 1,252 people are described as active at the field level, with at least 350 of them reportedly having links to the BNP or its affiliated organisations.
Police information cited in the report indicates that BNP-linked individuals feature prominently among groups allegedly involved in controlling extortion networks in different parts of Dhaka. The allegations cover a wide range of commercial and public spaces, suggesting that extortion is not confined to a particular type of business or locality.
According to the report, allegations have emerged in connection with pavements, wholesale fish markets, shopping centres, hotels, transport counters, CNG stands, auto-rickshaw garages and illegal parking areas. Ambulances, buses and launch terminals have also reportedly been affected. Slum areas are among the locations mentioned in connection with alleged extortion.
Such activities can have a direct impact on people who depend on these spaces for their livelihoods. Small traders, transport workers, market operators and other businesses may face additional financial pressure when unauthorised collections become part of everyday commercial activity. Disputes over land and property can also create wider tensions, particularly where competing groups claim control over valuable locations.
The reported police list has also raised questions about the relationship between local political influence and alleged criminal activity. However, being named on a police list or being accused of involvement does not, by itself, establish criminal responsibility. Individual allegations require verification through investigation and, where applicable, the judicial process.
BNP leaders asked about the list
BNP standing committee member Amanullah Aman was asked about the presence of BNP leaders and activists on the DMP list. He said the party’s acting secretary general, Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, would respond to the issue.
Aman did not comment when asked whether the matter would be raised for discussion within the party’s formal forums.
New Age also reported that it had attempted to contact at least six senior BNP leaders for their comments. The newspaper was able to speak with standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain. According to the report, Mosharraf said he was not aware of the matter and declined to comment.
The differing responses highlight the limited public information currently available about the methodology behind the reported list and the individual allegations involving those named. Details such as the specific evidence against each person, the nature of their alleged activities and whether formal cases have been filed would be necessary to assess individual cases separately.
Wider concerns over extortion and occupation
The report comes amid broader concern over allegations of extortion, unlawful occupation, attacks and looting in Dhaka and other parts of the country. A number of incidents involving disputes over property and control of commercial spaces have recently received media attention, contributing to public concern over law and order.
Extortion can affect not only those directly targeted but also the wider urban economy. Traders may pass additional costs on to customers, while transport operators and informal workers can face pressure when control over stands, markets or other public spaces is contested.
The DMP’s reported list has therefore put renewed focus on the need to establish who is actually involved in such activities and what evidence supports the allegations. It also raises questions about enforcement, accountability and the ability of authorities to prevent organised groups from exercising unlawful control over commercial or public spaces.
For the individuals named in the reported list, however, the allegations should be treated separately rather than as a collective finding of guilt. Whether any particular person has committed an offence can only be determined through evidence, investigation and due legal process. Further clarification from the police and the political figures mentioned in the report would help establish the circumstances surrounding the names included in the list.
