A court in Habiganj has taken cognizance of an extortion case against Madhabpur Upazila BNP president Shamsul Islam Kamal and four others over allegations that they demanded Tk20 lakh from an expatriate family after disrupting house construction. Sunny Alam Srabon, son of US expatriate Shahin Mia, filed the case on Thursday before Senior Judicial Magistrate Shahidul Alam of the Habiganj Speedy Trial Court.

The complaint alleges that Kamal and others stopped construction on land owned through purchase in the Dattapara area of Dharmaghar Bazar on August 16. They are accused of assault, issuing death threats and demanding money. Shahin Mia said he had earlier paid Kamal Tk50,000 and later Tk100,000 to prevent obstruction, but alleged that construction was still blocked and Tk20 lakh was demanded.

Kamal denied the allegations, saying the land is disputed and has three heirs, while the entire 31 decimals were allegedly registered from one heir. He said he visited the site only to resolve the matter. The court ordered the CR 52/2026 case to be treated as an FIR at Madhabpur police station within three working days, and Officer-in-Charge Sohel Rana said it has been recorded.