# Extortion Soars from 1 Lakh to 5 Lakh: No Sign of Governance or Police Reform

> BNP's Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir criticized rising extortion, saying businessmen now pay 5 lakh taka instead of 1 lakh. He blamed poor governance and unchanged police reform. At a book launch on July 26, he urged quick…

Published: 2026-09-14 · Desk: Latest · Source: The Business Standard

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has expressed concern over the growing rise in extortion, pointing to a lack of visible improvement in governance or reform in the police force. “Earlier, a businessman had to pay 1 lakh taka in extortion, but now he has to pay 5 lakh taka. There is no good governance or control anywhere. Nothing has changed in the police,” he remarked.

He made these statements on the morning of July 26 at the launch and discussion event of the book Economy, Governance, and Power: A Portrayal of Lived Life, authored by Hossain Zillur Rahman. The event was held at the auditorium of the Centre on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific (CIRDAP) in Dhaka, with the author presiding over the session. Former Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed was present as the chief guest.

Mirza Fakhrul emphasized that although reforms cannot be achieved overnight, waiting idly and abandoning democratic practices is not the solution. “Imposing anything forcefully is not the way forward. Therefore, without delay, we must move quickly toward a democratic process,” he said. He further stressed that reforms should be carried out by electing people’s representatives to parliament through democratic means.

Additionally, he warned of future challenges stemming from shifts in global policy. “Trump’s tariffs could lead to serious trouble for us in the near future. We must remember that political parties should always act positively and play a constructive role in the country’s development, keeping the public interest in mind,” he added.

Original reporting: https://www.tbsnews.net/bangla/bangladesh/news-details-369586
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