Abhaynagar's prominent BNP leader Joni arrested on extortion charges
Jashore Correspondent
Ashaduzzaman Joni, a prominent BNP leader from Nawapara, Jashore, has been arrested in a joint operation by the police on charges of extortion of Tk 4 crore. He is accused of kidnapping a businessman and brutally torturing and threatening to kill him.
He was arrested in a raid in Khulna on Tuesday night. Abdul Alim, officer-in-charge of Abhaynagar Police Station, confirmed the matter.
Police said, Asma Khatun, wife of businessman Shahnewaz Kabir Tipu, owner of a company called Jafridi Enterprise in Nawapara, alleged that her husband was kidnapped and held hostage at gunpoint in July last year. He was threatened with death if he did not pay the extortion. After that, he was buried up to his chest in sand and Tk 4 crore was extorted in several stages. Charges were filed against Asaduzzaman Joni and a few others in this incident. Later, on August 3 this year, a case was filed against Asaduzzaman Joni and a total of 6 people, including Nawapara Press Club General Secretary Mofizur Rahman.
The written complaint filed by Asma Khatun, wife of businessman Shahnewaz Kabir Tipu, said that on the morning of September 2 last year, a person named Saikat Hossain Hira skillfully called Shahnewaz Kabir Tipu to the office of the then organizing secretary of Nawapara Municipality BNP Asaduzzaman Joni. At that time, Joni beat him up and held him hostage at gunpoint and demanded Tk 2 crore.
Then, Tipu's wife made a real time gross settlement (RTGS) of Tk 2 crore from South Bangla Bank to Asaduzzaman Joni's company account. After receiving the money, Tipu was released that day. Then, on September 18, at around 9 am, Tipu was going to the market from his village home, Chalishia, on a motorcycle. On the way, when he crossed the gate of the Upazila Health Complex, Saikat Hossain Hira stopped him.
Then, Tipu's mobile phone was found switched off until 3 pm. Later, it was learned that Tipu had been taken to Kona Ecopark owned by BNP leader Asaduzzaman Joni. When Tipu's wife went there, Asaduzzaman Joni, Samrat Hossain and Nawapara Press Club General Secretary Mofizur Rahman beat the plaintiff with firearms and dug a hole up to his chest and demanded another 2 crore taka by filling it with sand.
At that time, Tipu was forced to call his manager and ask him to give the money. Then, the manager made a real time gross settlement (RTGS) of 68 lakh taka from Pubali Bank and 32 lakh taka from South Bangla Bank in the account of Press Club Secretary Mofiz.
At that time, Mofizur collected another cheque of 1 crore taka. He also made him sign three blank stamps purchased in the name of Joni and three blank stamps purchased in the name of Dilip Shah. Then he threatened to kill me if I said anything to anyone and let me go.
When asked, plaintiff Asma Khatun said, "Johnny took four crore taka from me in two phases. I did not file a complaint for security reasons for so long. Now my business is on the verge of closing. That is why I am demanding a fair trial."
The incident was widely covered in various national, regional and local newspapers including Daily Nagorik Bhabna, Daily Chetonay Bangladesh and Daily Country Today. After that, members of the joint forces and law enforcement agencies started searching for Joni indiscriminately. At one stage, the joint forces were able to arrest him from Khulna late on Tuesday night.
Officer-in-charge of Abhaynagar Police Station Abdul Alim said that Joni had been on the run for a long time. After being on the run for a long time, a team of the joint forces conducted a raid in Khulna on Tuesday night based on secret information and was able to arrest Johnny. He is currently being kept at Abhaynagar Police Station and is being interrogated. The police are investigating some other drug and extortion charges against him.
He also said that a case was recently filed against Joni for extorting 4 crore taka from Asma Khatun, wife of businessman Shahnewaz Kabir Tipu, owner of an organization called Jafridi Enterprise in Nawapara. He was arrested in a joint force operation based on that case. He is being interrogated and further action will be taken as per the law.
It is mentioned that Asaduzzaman Joni was suspended from his post on November 21, 2024 on charges of violating party discipline. He was the organizing secretary of Nawapara Municipality BNP.
