In a brazen display of criminal audacity in the port city of Chittagong, armed assailants targeted the residence of a prominent businessman on Friday morning. Investigative findings suggest the attack was executed after the gunmen conducted sophisticated surveillance on nearby police movements. Despite a security detail being stationed a mere 50 yards away, the masked group discharged approximately 15 rounds at the property before making a clean escape in a waiting microbus.
The target was the Chandanpura home of Mujibur Rahman, the proprietor of the Smart Group and a former Member of Parliament for the Chittagong-16 constituency. Mr Rahman, who previously served as the Vice-President of the South District unit of the Awami League, has been keeping a low profile since the political transition in August 2024.
Incident Logistics and Security Lapses
| Metric | Operational Detail |
| Date & Time | Friday, 3 January 2026; 07:30 AM |
| Suspected Mastermind | Followers of Interpol Red Notice fugitive Sajjad Ali |
| Extortion Demand | 10 million Taka (demanded via international call) |
| Attack Squad | 8 masked men; split into front and rear teams |
| Security Failure | Police withdrew to a nearby school to escape the cold |
| Escape Route | Bakalia Access Road; vehicle used tampered plates |
Tactical Surveillance and Breach
The investigation into the security breach reveals that the gunmen had been monitoring a temporary police checkpoint established specifically for Mr Rahman’s protection following previous extortion threats. On the night of the attack, an Assistant Sub-Inspector and three Constables were on duty, equipped with Sub-Machine Guns (SMGs). However, at dawn, the officers reportedly moved inside a nearby school building to escape the morning chill.
The attackers capitalised on this vacancy at 07:24 AM. CCTV footage shows five youths approaching the front gate while three others positioned themselves at the rear. After the shooting, they fled in a white microbus with obscured number plates. Alarmingly, senior police commanders were not informed of the event until 10:00 AM—nearly three hours after 15 rounds were fired—as the officers on site failed to report the gunfire.
The Shadow of Sajjad Ali
Law enforcement agencies believe the assault was orchestrated by the “Sajjad Force,” led by the notorious criminal Sajjad Ali (listed as Sajjad Hossain Khan on the Interpol website). Sajjad remains a fugitive, but his syndicate continues to terrorise five police jurisdictions in Chittagong, including Chandgaon and Panchlaish. Since the August uprising, his followers have been linked to at least ten murders, operating as both territorial enforcers and contract killers.
The failure to intercept the gunmen is a significant setback for the Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP). Last November, the CMP Commissioner had issued a “fire on sight” directive against armed terrorists, specifically arming patrol units with SMGs to prevent such daylight attacks.
Despite the violence, Mr Rahman has notably declined to file a formal case. Speaking to the media, he claimed he was not in a state of panic, stating, “I have committed no crime that should make me feel afraid.” Nevertheless, the Detective Branch (DB) has launched an internal inquiry into the conduct of the officers at the checkpoint and their delay in reporting the incident.