The people who received the calls are businessmen, lawyers, doctors, bankers, service holders and teachers. Calls for toll and death threats to such a large number of people have created a panic in the town.

They included Aminul Islam, Manager of Karmosongsthan Bank; Dr. Bahar Alam; Rafikul Islam, businessman Sunil, Shyamol, Abdul Wahab, owner of A Wahab Traders; Sherab Ali, Owner of Shathi Enterprise and Ashraful Islam Asha, Distributor of Bajaj Motors in Sirajganj.

Aminul Islam told this correspondent that he got a call over cellphone Tuesday evening. The caller introducing himself as PBCP 'regional leader' Harun-or-Rashid Dada Bhai demanded Tk 2 lakh for his party and treatment of four party men injured in an encounter with Rapid Aaction Battalion (Rab) recently. Two injured party men are now at a hospital in Madras, the caller said.

Money is also needed to reorganise the party for the coming election as it suffered a setback due to anti-crime drives by law enforcers, he said. "I feel insecure and do not move alone", Aminul said.

This correspondent also talked to some other people who received the calls. They said the calls were made from two cellphones.

Some of them have filed general diary with Sadar police station.

A businessman said he has stopped going to his office in the town after receiving the call.

When contacted, Sadar police station Officer-in-Charge Abdul Jabbar said some people have filed GD and the matter is under investigation.