Dhaka: A suspected extortionist on Monday demanded toll over mobile phone from 15 officials of the Election Commission and threatened to kill them or kidnap their children if his demand goes unheeded. 

“…14-15 officials received threats from a particular mobile phone number. The caller introduced himself as a member of criminal gang ‘Shahadat Bahini’,” Election Commission Secretary Sirazul Islam told UNB. 

A general diary was registered with Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station in this regard, he said.  

The caller, introducing himself as Kata Babu phoned the EC officials in between 9:30am and 11:30am, and demanded various amounts of money from them. 

He also threatened to kill them or kidnap their children if they fail to pay the money, said EC officials. 

Sources at the EC said Additional Secretary Mukhlesur Rahman, several joint secretaries and deputy secretaries were among the officials who received the threats. 

Meanwhile, unknown people and outsiders, except journalists, were not allowed to enter the EC Secretariat on the day.