Khulna's 'Choyonika' pharmacy on Tutpara Central Road shut after Tk 20 lakh extortion demand and threats; manager flees home

An allegation has arisen that a large sum in extortion money was demanded, with threats, from the owner of 'Choyonika Pharmacy', a long-established medicine shop on Tutpara Central Road in Khulna city. Since the incident, the owners have kept the pharmacy closed over security risks, and the manager has also left home and moved elsewhere.

Relatives of the victim and local residents say that five days ago a caller identifying himself as the chief of a leading Khulna criminal gang phoned the pharmacy's manager, Babu, and demanded Tk 20 lakh in extortion money. The caller also told him to inform the pharmacy's owner. The manager replied that he was only an employee.

Then, on Wednesday evening, two armed criminals came to the pharmacy in person and threatened to abduct manager Babu if the extortion money was not kept ready. The authorities closed the pharmacy from that point on.

Neighbouring traders say they usually keep their shops open until late at night. Choyonika Pharmacy has been closed since 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday, and it did not open on Thursday (October 29) either. The sudden closure of an establishment known for more than two decades has created anger and fear among local people.

At the home of the pharmacy's owner, visitors were first told he was absent. He later spoke to the reporter from behind a window, but avoided the subject of the extortion demand.

Manager Babu lives on the ground floor of a five-storey building beside Miyapara Sultana Hamid Ali School. A visit there found his door locked. Neighbours said they could not say for certain when Babu had left home.

Khulna Police Station's Officer-in-Charge Md Lokman Hossain Ripon said he had heard about the extortion demand. However, the victims had not named anyone specifically or provided specific information, and no written complaint had been filed at the station. Legal action would be taken if a complaint were received, he said.

Earlier, the city's Queens Hospital, Sandhani Clinic and Diagnostic Centre, and the popular restaurant Chinese Palace were vandalised after extortion money was not paid.

Local sources say that on October 24 at around 9 p.m., Sandhani Clinic in Khulna city was attacked and vandalised. A group of 10 to 12 people arriving on motorcycles carried out the attack. At the time, Khulna Sadar Police Station OC Lokman Hossain had said shots were fired at the clinic and an investigation was under way to identify the attackers.

After that incident, on Wednesday (October 28) afternoon, four to five youths attacked and vandalised the Chinese Palace restaurant near PTI Mor on Ahsan Ahmed Road in the city.