The Savar municipality is currently abuzz with allegations of extortion involving a former high-ranking student leader. Arman Hossain Babu, the erstwhile Joint Convener of the Dhaka District North Chhatra Dal, has been accused of harassing roadside vendors and forcibly seizing their merchandise after they reportedly refused to meet his demands for “protection money.”
Table of Contents
Details of the Incident
The confrontation took place on Thursday, 19 February, beneath the pedestrian overpass in the Radio Colony area of Savar. According to local coconut vendors, a group of eight to ten individuals, allegedly led by Babu, approached their stalls at approximately 11:00 am.
The vendors claim that when they refused to pay the demanded sum, the group subjected them to verbal abuse and intimidation. In an act of blatant seizure, the group reportedly confiscated approximately 200 coconuts along with the wooden benches used for display, loading them onto a vehicle before departing.
A Climate of Fear for Small Businesses
This incident has cast a spotlight on the systemic challenges faced by micro-entrepreneurs in Savar. Street vendors operating in the Radio Colony area—ranging from tea stalls to fish and vegetable vendors—reportedly face daily demands for sums ranging from 200 to 500 BDT.
| Business Type | Typical Daily “Tax” Demand | Reported Harassment Level |
| Street Food/Tea Stalls | 200 – 300 BDT | Moderate; constant verbal pressure. |
| Vegetable/Fish Vendors | 300 – 500 BDT | High; risk of stock confiscation. |
| Fruit/Coconut Sellers | 400 – 500 BDT | High; physical removal of stalls. |
Local merchants allege that since the conclusion of the recent National Election, Arman Hossain Babu has been aggressively attempting to consolidate control over these illicit collections. Many vendors expressed a sense of helplessness, noting that Babu frequently presents himself as a close confidant of the local Member of Parliament, Dr Dewan Mohammad Salahuddin Babu, to exert influence.
Denials and Counter-Claims
In his defence, Arman Hossain Babu has categorically denied the allegations of extortion. He maintains that the incident was merely a verbal dispute regarding public obstruction. “I was travelling from the Radio Colony stand towards the petrol pump,” Babu stated. “The vendors had placed their stalls in a manner that blocked an entire lane of the highway, causing a significant traffic jam. I simply asked them to move; there was no demand for money.”
Organisational Response
The leadership of the Dhaka District North Chhatra Dal has found itself in a difficult position due to Babu’s “former” status. Mahfuz Iqbal, the General Secretary of the unit, noted that because Babu no longer holds an active post, formal organisational disciplinary measures are technically inapplicable. However, he assured the public that he would consult with the unit’s President to determine a necessary course of action to protect the party’s reputation.