Blab Crypto
Police Officers in Chattogram Accused of Extorting Cash and Cryptocurrency from Businessman
On a damp September night in Chattogram, a businessman’s wallet was emptied in a single evening by two officers who should have been safeguarding the city’s streets. On September 4, 2026, Akhtaruzzaman Shakil, 27, and his friend Mansur Ali were seized from a house in K Block, Halishahar, by two Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP) officers who allegedly forced them to hand over cash and digital assets.
The victims and a police source say the officers—Assistant Commissioner Shariful Alam Sujon of the CMP’s Law and Order Intelligence Cell (LIC) and Assistant Sub‑Inspector Bashir Uddin—first approached Shakil and Ali in plain clothes. They then took the pair, along with Shakil’s Toyota Corolla, to the LIC office, seized their mobile phones, and copied personal data onto another device. Shakil later told The Daily Star that the officers threatened to leak private photographs of him and his girlfriend and to implicate them in a gambling case. In the end, the men were coerced into transferring a total of $10,864 (about Tk 13.25 lakh) from Shakil’s Binance account in three separate transactions.
The story grew darker as Shakil recounted that, around 10:40 p.m. the same day, three constables escorted him to a bank booth near the CMP office and forced him to withdraw Tk 4 lakh in five separate withdrawals. Mobile notifications reviewed by the newspaper show five withdrawals of Tk 80,000 each between 10:52 p.m. and 10:58 p.m. He also claimed that Tk 80,000 was transferred from a mobile‑financial account while he was still at the LIC office.
Mansur Ali described a different, yet equally harrowing encounter. The officers initially demanded Tk 1 crore, threatening a gambling case. Shakil eventually agreed to pay Tk 20 lakh out of fear, handing over money and cryptocurrency in instalments. The pair were released around midnight after the officers recorded their names, addresses and phone numbers on a blank sheet, obtained their signatures and filmed them.
Shakil said Bashir—who introduced himself as an inspector—supervised the process. He added that AC Shariful later told him, “I have let you off lightly.” The following day, Bashir allegedly contacted the men several times about returning Shakil’s car and demanded an additional Tk 5 lakh for the vehicle and their mobile phones. Shakil said AC Shariful later asked him to pay Tk 5 lakh and, when he refused, requested an iPhone as a gift. The car was returned on the night of September 5 without any money or gift, but Shakil said five of his mobile phones remained with the officers.
No formal case has been filed as of Wednesday morning, September 9, because the victims felt insecure. Shakil runs a polypropylene raw‑material business in Khatunganj and owns an agro farm in Patiya, and also trades dollars through the Binance app. Mansur runs a machinery‑parts business in Dewanhat.
Bangladesh Bank’s 2022 notice has prohibited the trading, holding and transfer of virtual currencies, including cryptocurrencies. The central bank’s circular, dated 15 September 2022, states that virtual assets are not recognised as currency for foreign‑exchange transactions or investment under the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act, 1947.
When The Daily Star visited the LIC office on Tuesday, AC Shariful was absent. Police personnel on duty confirmed that Bashir worked there and identified him as an ASI. Repeated calls and WhatsApp messages to Shariful seeking a response went unanswered, and Bashir did not reply to calls.
CMP Commissioner Hasan Md Showkat Ali said he was on leave and unaware of the matter, but promised to investigate. When contacted again on Wednesday, he said, “We have heard about the incident through some sources. Whoever may be involved, we will investigate the matter. There will be no scope for anyone to get away with it. Whoever is responsible will face disciplinary action if evidence is found.”
The incident echoes a January 2024 case in which Bangladesh Bank officers allegedly extorted bitcoins worth about Tk 1 crore from freelancer Abu Bakkar after threatening to implicate him in a case and kill him in a “crossfire.” An internal CMP investigation found the allegations true, leading to the suspension of the officers involved and departmental cases.
At present, the situation remains unresolved. No case has been filed, no disciplinary action has been taken, and the victims have not pursued legal recourse. The CMP has announced an investigation, but no outcome has been reported.
The incident highlights ongoing concerns about police misconduct and the vulnerability of individuals engaging in cryptocurrency transactions in Bangladesh, where such activity is officially prohibited. It also underscores the need for clearer enforcement mechanisms and protection for victims of alleged extortion by law‑enforcement officers.
The victims and a police source say the officers—Assistant Commissioner Shariful Alam Sujon of the CMP’s Law and Order Intelligence Cell (LIC) and Assistant Sub‑Inspector Bashir Uddin—first approached Shakil and Ali in plain clothes. They then took the pair, along with Shakil’s Toyota Corolla, to the LIC office, seized their mobile phones, and copied personal data onto another device. Shakil later told The Daily Star that the officers threatened to leak private photographs of him and his girlfriend and to implicate them in a gambling case. In the end, the men were coerced into transferring a total of $10,864 (about Tk 13.25 lakh) from Shakil’s Binance account in three separate transactions.
The story grew darker as Shakil recounted that, around 10:40 p.m. the same day, three constables escorted him to a bank booth near the CMP office and forced him to withdraw Tk 4 lakh in five separate withdrawals. Mobile notifications reviewed by the newspaper show five withdrawals of Tk 80,000 each between 10:52 p.m. and 10:58 p.m. He also claimed that Tk 80,000 was transferred from a mobile‑financial account while he was still at the LIC office.
Mansur Ali described a different, yet equally harrowing encounter. The officers initially demanded Tk 1 crore, threatening a gambling case. Shakil eventually agreed to pay Tk 20 lakh out of fear, handing over money and cryptocurrency in instalments. The pair were released around midnight after the officers recorded their names, addresses and phone numbers on a blank sheet, obtained their signatures and filmed them.
Shakil said Bashir—who introduced himself as an inspector—supervised the process. He added that AC Shariful later told him, “I have let you off lightly.” The following day, Bashir allegedly contacted the men several times about returning Shakil’s car and demanded an additional Tk 5 lakh for the vehicle and their mobile phones. Shakil said AC Shariful later asked him to pay Tk 5 lakh and, when he refused, requested an iPhone as a gift. The car was returned on the night of September 5 without any money or gift, but Shakil said five of his mobile phones remained with the officers.
No formal case has been filed as of Wednesday morning, September 9, because the victims felt insecure. Shakil runs a polypropylene raw‑material business in Khatunganj and owns an agro farm in Patiya, and also trades dollars through the Binance app. Mansur runs a machinery‑parts business in Dewanhat.
Bangladesh Bank’s 2022 notice has prohibited the trading, holding and transfer of virtual currencies, including cryptocurrencies. The central bank’s circular, dated 15 September 2022, states that virtual assets are not recognised as currency for foreign‑exchange transactions or investment under the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act, 1947.
When The Daily Star visited the LIC office on Tuesday, AC Shariful was absent. Police personnel on duty confirmed that Bashir worked there and identified him as an ASI. Repeated calls and WhatsApp messages to Shariful seeking a response went unanswered, and Bashir did not reply to calls.
CMP Commissioner Hasan Md Showkat Ali said he was on leave and unaware of the matter, but promised to investigate. When contacted again on Wednesday, he said, “We have heard about the incident through some sources. Whoever may be involved, we will investigate the matter. There will be no scope for anyone to get away with it. Whoever is responsible will face disciplinary action if evidence is found.”
The incident echoes a January 2024 case in which Bangladesh Bank officers allegedly extorted bitcoins worth about Tk 1 crore from freelancer Abu Bakkar after threatening to implicate him in a case and kill him in a “crossfire.” An internal CMP investigation found the allegations true, leading to the suspension of the officers involved and departmental cases.
At present, the situation remains unresolved. No case has been filed, no disciplinary action has been taken, and the victims have not pursued legal recourse. The CMP has announced an investigation, but no outcome has been reported.
The incident highlights ongoing concerns about police misconduct and the vulnerability of individuals engaging in cryptocurrency transactions in Bangladesh, where such activity is officially prohibited. It also underscores the need for clearer enforcement mechanisms and protection for victims of alleged extortion by law‑enforcement officers.
