, Feb. 20 -- Business leaders in Bauphal upazila shut shops on Friday after alleged extortionists threatened to kill them for refusing to pay regular tolls.

The president of the Kalaiya Daspara Construction Materials Owners Association, Mostafizur Rahman Chowdhury, was first threatened on Thursday.

Traders later filed a written complaint with the police that evening.

On Friday, the group's general secretary Masud Rana was also threatened with a sharp weapon.

Locals and shop owners confronted the suspect, who then fled the scene.

In protest, traders closed shops from 10:30am to 1:30pm. The strike was withdrawn after newly elected MP Shafiqul Islam Masud visited the area and promised legal action against those involved.

Traders allege...