Photo : Collected

GOPALGANJ, March 29, 2026 (BSS) - A court here today sentenced Mehedi Hasan Mia alias Russell, 34, chief of the notorious “Russell Bahini,” and his two associates to five years in prison for demanding extortion and threatening an under construction industrial establishment in Kashiani upazila of the district.

The court also fined them Taka 20,000, in default, to suffer four months more in jail.

Judge of Joint Sessions District Judge’s Court Yasin Arafat announced the verdict on Sunday afternoon.

The other convicted individuals are - SM Sajid alias Yasin Sheikh, son of Shahidul Sheikh and Abdullah Sheikh, son of Abed Sheikh, both residents of Khagrabaria village in Kashiani upazila.

According to the case report, on March 8, 2023, Russell and his associates visited the under-construction MS Metal Industries Limited in Khagrabaria seeking the company’s executive director, Azizul Islam Miah. Failing to locate him, the accused demanded Taka 2 lakh from the company manager, Hatim Ali Mridha, threatened to halt construction if the money was not paid.

The following day, the accused intercepted Executive Director Azizul Islam Miah at Aruakandi Bazar on a motorcycle, threatening to kill him if he did not comply with their demand. The executive director subsequently filed a case with Kashiani Police Station on March 10.

Investigation Officer Sub-Inspector Shah Alam submitted the charge-sheet to the court on April 11, 2023. After a lengthy trial and evaluation of evidence, the court delivered its verdict on Sunday.