Extortion increased after 5 Aug, laments Salehuddin

Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed has lamented that extortion has surged across the country since August 5, 2024 with the interim government failing to bring the situation under control. Discussing with journalists at his office in the Ministry of Finance on Tuesday, September 30, Salehuddin said the issue could not be resolved without political commitment and an elected government. "For example, if Tk 1 was extorted earlier, now Tk 1.5-Tk 2 is being taken. Since August 5, various groups have become involved in extortion, including those who were not previously engaged. Even members of business associations are involved," he explained. He stressed that extortion was fuelling price hikes of essential goods, though tackling the problem did not fall within his ministry’s...