Khulna Traders Shutter Shops Amid Extortion Threats From Criminal Syndicate
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Khulna police are investigating reports of widespread business closures at the Ismail Iron Market in the Sheikhpara area following intimidation and extortion attempts by a local criminal syndicate known as the “B Company.” Despite ongoing special law enforcement operations to curb organized crime, drug trafficking, and racketeering across the city, traders remain paralyzed by fear, with a significant majority of shops in the market remaining shuttered as of Thursday afternoon.
The standoff began Wednesday morning when members of the gang reportedly forced merchants to lock their businesses. While local police and Detective Branch (DB) officials arrived at the scene to provide assurances of safety, many business owners remain hesitant to resume operations. Local sources allege that the intimidation is being orchestrated by the “B Company,” a group previously led by the notorious associate Litton Mir—also known as “Kasai Litton”—who served as the primary financier for the fugitive kingpin Rony Chowdhury, alias “Grenade Babu.”
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Litton was apprehended by the Detective Branch last Friday. According to police, digital evidence extracted from his mobile devices has provided authorities with critical intelligence regarding the inner workings of the “B Company.” Investigators believe that despite Litton’s arrest, a new faction of the syndicate has emerged to demand protection money from local traders. The market closures are reportedly a direct consequence of merchants refusing to comply with these fresh extortion demands.
Sona Danga Police Station Officer-in-Charge Rafiqul Islam stated that authorities have established a constant security presence at the site. While acknowledging that some shops have begun to reopen, the official noted that police are investigating whether other factors are contributing to the continued closures of the remaining businesses. Efforts to identify and arrest the individuals behind the recent coercion are currently underway.
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The incident at the Iron Market highlights a broader, persistent challenge for the Khulna Metropolitan Police (KMP). In the last eight days, law enforcement agencies have conducted an intensive crackdown on criminal activities, arresting 426 individuals across the city, including 11 suspects apprehended between Wednesday evening and Thursday morning for offenses involving narcotics and gang activity.
While the KMP continues to highlight these high arrest figures as evidence of progress, local traders argue that the incident at the Sheikhpara market underscores the limits of the current operation. Despite the systemic sweep, the persistent ability of criminal factions to disrupt commerce and demand extortion payments suggests that the city’s organized crime networks remain entrenched despite the heightened police presence.
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