Police have arrested Abdur Rouf (45) for attempting extortion at the Meherpur Sadar Upazila Family Planning Office, claiming to be a relative of the Health Minister and an influential journalist. He was caught red-handed around 11 a.m. on Sunday (15 March) at the office near the city bus stand.
According to police and office sources, Abdur Rouf, son of the late Sarafat Ali from Mallikpara, had been posing as a Health Minister’s relative and a powerful journalist to extort money from various government offices. Since the start of Ramadan, he allegedly demanded 20,000 BDT from Upazila Health Office Chief Assistant Mosharaf Hossain and Statistician Akram Hossain through phone calls and WhatsApp messages, threatening consequences if the money was not paid.
On Sunday morning, he visited the office to demand the money. Staff members restrained him and informed the police.
Statistician Akram Hossain said,
“He was creating mental pressure on us by claiming to be related to the minister. This morning, when he demanded money directly in the office, we collectively restrained him and informed higher authorities.”
Upazila Family Planning Officer Anjuman Ara confirmed the incident, stating,
“Upon receiving information about the extortion attempt from two of my staff, I immediately notified Sadar Police Station. Police came and arrested the accused.”
OC Humayun Kabir of Meherpur Sadar Police Station said a case has been filed against Abdur Rouf under extortion charges, with Akram Hossain as the complainant. The police are currently investigating the matter.
This is not Rouf’s first extortion record. Last year, he was caught by the public attempting extortion at a clinic in Banshbaria, Gangni Upazila, for which he spent a long period in jail.
