Around a thousand shop-owners and their employees also took out a procession from the market to Mirpur 1 crossing, creating a traffic jam in the locality.

The traders alleged that Mohammad Yunus, the vice-president of the market committee and also the founder president, has been extorting the shop-owners since the inception of the complex in 1999.

When any shop in the complex is sold, Yunus takes money from both the buyer and the seller, the traders alleged.

On Wednesday noon, Yunus beat up Abu Bakar, owner of Sumon Shoes, at the market committee office for not paying off the claimed money. He was supposed to pay Tk 3.5 lakh for selling one and buying another shop in the complex and had already paid Tk 3 lakh, the traders said.

The traders further alleged that Yunus not only extort money from the shop-owners, but also take goods from the shops without paying, adding that he also take toll from the hawkers he allows in front of the complex.

The shop-owners dare not to speak against him as he has alliance with the local goons, they said.

Contacted, Yunus refused to make any comments in this regard.