Police in Cumilla’s Burichang upazila arrested nine individuals from Nimsar Bazar on Wednesday night for allegedly extorting Tk 3,000 instead of the official Tk 100 market fee. The arrests were confirmed by Burichang Police Station Officer-in-Charge Lutfur Rahman. However, the alleged masterminds, Humayun Kabir, vice-president of the BNP’s Mokam Union unit, and Shakil Hossain Shahin, a member of the same unit, remain at large.

Local traders accused the two BNP leaders of collecting excessive tolls under the guise of market lease fees along the Dhaka–Chattogram highway. Police said the operation was conducted under the supervision of Additional Superintendent of Police (Cumilla Sadar Circle) Saiful Malek after receiving a tip-off about the extortion activities. Burichang Upazila Nirbahi Officer Tanvir Hossain confirmed that complaints of overcharging had been received earlier.

Police stated that a case is being processed in connection with the incident, and efforts are ongoing to apprehend the main suspects.