Case filed on 11-Year-Old Child for not being able to fulfill Extortion demands

Dhaka — An 11-year-old child has been named in a lawsuit over extortion charges in the Uttara area of Dhaka, sparking widespread outrage across the country.

The case involves allegations that local businessman Hamid Mollah falsely reported the child, Saad, as 19 years old in the complaint, despite the child’s actual age being 11. Further allegations include an attack on the family’s home and threats of violence.

Saad’s family claims that the influential local figure, GS Swapna, is behind the case. After multiple failed attempts to extort money from Hamid Mollah, Swapna allegedly resorted to shooting at their home to intimidate them.

Family members state that the false case against Saad is part of an ongoing harassment campaign targeting the entire family by Swapna.

According to local residents, Swapna has been using various legal tactics to extort money from residents since August 5. He is accused of enticing poor and uneducated people with money to file false complaints and demanding large sums of money from the targeted individuals.

Reports also suggest that Swapna has resorted to threats and physical attacks, including damaging homes, when his demands for money were not met.

An audio recording, which was leaked, reportedly captures Swapna threatening an individual, saying, “I will set your house on fire.” The recording has gained significant attention since its release.

However, GS Swapna has denied all allegations against him. In an interview, he claimed, “Why would I ask for extortion money? The person who filed the complaint against me is a leader of the Awami League, and it was anti-communal elements who attacked his house.”

Police have stated that they will ensure no innocent individuals are harassed during the investigation.

Uttara Police Station’s Officer-in-Charge, Mohammad Hafizur Rahman, said, “We had no choice but to accept the complaint. If the investigation proves the individuals are innocent, we will clear them of the charges.”

However, Supreme Court lawyer Mohammad Bin Bajlur Rahman said the police should have first verified the validity of the allegations before accepting the case. He also emphasized that the law provides for punishment for filing false complaints and compensation for the victims.