An armed group allegedly attacked a businessman’s under-construction building in Chattogram after he refused to pay Tk20 million in extortion, according to police and local sources. The attackers reportedly vandalised the property and detonated three crude bombs, commonly referred to as cocktails, before leaving the area.
A construction worker, identified as Hasan Saki, sustained serious injuries after allegedly being hacked with a machete-like weapon during the attack. Several other workers, along with security personnel, were reportedly beaten.
The incident took place at around 8am on Sunday, 26 July, in a residential area near the Baro Dighirpar-Bhatiary Link Road in Ward No. 1 of Chattogram City Corporation’s South Pahartali area.
According to police and eyewitnesses, eight to 10 masked men arrived at the site in a tempo while construction work was under way. The group allegedly entered the building and began assaulting workers. They then vandalised various parts of the property, including doors, windows and other fixtures.
At one point, the attackers allegedly struck Hasan Saki with a machete, leaving him seriously injured. The group reportedly detonated three crude bombs in front of the building before fleeing, creating panic among residents and people in the surrounding area.
Businessman Mohammad Jasim Uddin, the owner of the construction project, said he had been receiving telephone calls from foreign numbers for about a month, with the callers demanding Tk20 million in extortion. He said he had already informed the police about the threats.
According to Jasim, the demands temporarily stopped for several days but resumed later, with renewed pressure to pay the money. He believes the attack on his under-construction building was carried out because he refused to meet the extortion demand.
He said he was preparing to file a case over the incident.
Kazi Mohammad Tarek Aziz, additional superintendent of police for the Hathazari Circle, said investigators had collected CCTV footage from the scene. Police were analysing the footage to identify those involved and were conducting operations to arrest the attackers, he said.
The incident has raised fresh concerns among residents and property owners in the area. Local people claim that the owners of at least eight to 10 other under-construction buildings in the Baro Dighirpar area have also allegedly been subjected to extortion demands. Many, they said, were reluctant to speak publicly about the matter out of fear.
Residents have called for increased security in the area and swift action against those allegedly involved in extortion and violent attacks. Some locals said they had rarely, if ever, witnessed extortion being carried out so openly in the area.
The latest incident has also revived concerns over a possible rise in extortion-related violence in Chattogram. On 13 July, a similar armed attack and vandalism were reported at an internet service provider’s office on Access Road in the city’s Chawkbazar area. Twenty people were arrested in connection with that incident following operations by the Rapid Action Battalion and police.
The latest attack, involving alleged extortion demands, violence against workers and the use of crude bombs, has intensified calls from residents for stronger law enforcement measures.
Police are now examining the CCTV footage and other available evidence as part of their investigation. The identities of those behind the attack and the exact circumstances surrounding the incident will be established through the investigation. Meanwhile, the businessman is preparing to lodge a formal complaint, which is expected to provide the basis for further legal proceedings.
