Arson Strikes Jute Warehouse

A jute waste storage facility linked to a garment factory near the Ananya Residential Area under Chandgaon Police Station in Chattogram has been deliberately set on fire in what authorities suspect to be a coordinated act of arson.

The incident occurred on Wednesday afternoon (1 April), when a group of approximately eight to ten individuals allegedly forced their way into the premises, ordered workers and staff to vacate the warehouse, and then proceeded to ignite the stored materials using a flammable accelerant.

According to the Officer-in-Charge of Chandgaon Police Station, Nur Hossain Mamun, the attackers arrived in a group and swiftly took control of the site. He stated that the perpetrators poured a flammable substance from a two-litre container before setting the warehouse ablaze and fleeing the scene immediately afterwards.

Although the identities of those involved have not yet been confirmed, law enforcement officials believe the attack may be linked to prior extortion attempts. The OC noted that during the last Ramadan period, a group had reportedly demanded money from the warehouse owner. However, no formal complaint was lodged with the police at the time, and no request for protective assistance was made.

Emergency response teams, including firefighters and police units, were dispatched promptly to the scene. The fire was eventually brought under control, although significant damage had already been inflicted on the facility and its stored jute waste materials. Authorities have since conducted an initial inspection of the site to assess the extent of the destruction.

A local resident, Shaukat Hossain, described witnessing the incident shortly before noon, stating that a group entered the warehouse, expelled the workers, and set fire to the premises before escaping. He added that fire service personnel arrived shortly afterwards and managed to extinguish the blaze, while police also attended the scene.

Investigators are currently reviewing whether the incident is connected to a wider pattern of similar attacks in the region. In late last year, two separate jute waste warehouses in the Panchlaish and Bayezid police station areas of Chattogram were also set ablaze following alleged extortion demands, raising concerns about organised criminal activity targeting industrial storage facilities.

Authorities have confirmed that efforts are underway to identify those responsible through intelligence gathering and any available surveillance footage. Security measures in industrial zones and storage facilities are also expected to be reviewed in light of repeated incidents of this nature.

Incident Overview

Police have urged anyone with information regarding the incident to come forward as investigations continue into possible links with organised extortion networks operating in the area.