Journalist Mozammel Babu placed under arrest in Boishakhi TV extortion case

During the military-backed caretaker government, a group led by Babu demanded Tk 100 million in extortion at the Boishakhi TV office, the prosecutor says

Journalist Mozammel Babu has been placed under arrest in an extortion case filed by Boishakhi TV.

On Sunday, Dhaka Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Ziadur Rahman ordered his arrest in the case after a hearing.

The case's investigation officer, Banani Police Station Sub-Inspector Rajiul Amin, had recently applied to have Babu listed as a suspect and placed under arrest. The court had set Sunday for the hearing on that petition.

Babu was brought to court wearing a helmet and bulletproof vest around 11:40am.

“During the military-backed caretaker government [in 2007], a group led by Babu demanded Tk 100 million in extortion at the Boishakhi TV office. They took Tk 450,000 in cash. We request that he be placed under arrest in this case. After his arrest, he will be taken on remand for interrogation,” said prosecutor Muhammad Shamsuddoha Sumon during the hearing.

The court later granted the petition and ordered that he be sent to jail, Sumon said.

On Jan 11, Chowdhury Md Humayun Kabir of Boishakhi Media Ltd filed the case with Banani Police Station against Babu and two others.

After the fall of the Awami League government, Babu, then managing director of Ekattor TV, was arrested on Sept 16, 2024, from the Dhobaura border in Mymensingh. He has remained behind bars since.