Police Attacked While Resisting Extortion: Seven Arrested at Narsingdi in Bangladesh

Sangram Datta: What began as a routine police operation to stop roadside extortion turned violent on Friday evening, October 4, in central Bangladesh, leaving a senior officer injured and exposing the growing challenge of curbing organized petty crime in regional towns.

In the bustling Arshinagar area of Narsingdi, a district just east of the capital Dhaka, a police team led by Additional Superintendent of Police (Sadar Circle) Anwar Hossain confronted a group of men reportedly collecting illegal tolls from passing vehicles. When officers detained two suspects, others in the group retaliated, attacking the team with sticks and blunt weapons.

Witnesses said the sudden assault sent shockwaves through the area, as startled pedestrians fled the scene. A video later surfaced on social media showing a man striking a uniformed police officer — believed to be Anwar Hossain — prompting widespread condemnation online.

Hossain sustained head and shoulder injuries and was rushed to Narsingdi Sadar Hospital before being transferred to the Central Police Hospital in Dhaka for specialized treatment.

Following the attack, Sohel Ahmed, in-charge of the town police outpost, filed a case naming five individuals and between 25 to 30 unidentified others. Police launched an overnight raid that led to the arrest of seven suspects.

District Police Superintendent Menhajul Alam confirmed the arrests and said investigators were verifying the detainees’ roles in the assault.

“We have detained seven suspects and are examining their involvement in the incident,” Alam told reporters. “Efforts are ongoing to arrest others seen in the video footage.”

The violent confrontation has reignited concerns about the persistence of small-scale extortion networks in parts of Bangladesh, where transport hubs and local markets often attract groups seeking to extract illegal payments from drivers and traders.

Authorities said additional patrols have been deployed in key areas of Narsingdi town to prevent further unrest, while an internal police review is underway to assess security protocols during such operations.