NATORE, Bangladesh, Aug. 3: Panic has gripped a Hindu community in Lalpur upazila of Natore district after unidentified individuals allegedly left an extortion letter demanding BDT 20,000 from each Hindu family and threatening to kill family members if the payment was not made within 24 hours.
According to local residents, the letter was discovered around 11:00 p.m. on Saturday on the veranda of the home of Narayan Kumar Pal in the Palpara area of Baknai village under Lalpur Union. The family immediately informed neighbors and local police after the letter was found.
The letter instructed every Hindu household in the village to send BDT 20,000 through a mobile financial service account. It also warned recipients not to inform anyone about the demand and directed them to pass the letter on to other Hindu families in the neighborhood.
The note reportedly bore the name “Seven Star Authority” and included a mobile payment number.
The incident has created widespread fear and insecurity among residents of the Hindu community.
Arun Kumar Pal, whose family received the letter, said they had informed both local residents and the police immediately after finding it.
“We are living in fear and feel unsafe after receiving the threat,” he said.
Lalpur Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md. Shafiqul Islam confirmed the incident, saying police had visited the scene, seized the letter, and launched an investigation.
Authorities are attempting to trace the origin of the letter, identify those responsible, and determine whether similar threats have been made elsewhere, the police officer added. No arrests had been reported as of Sunday.
