A warehouse and office belonging to AJR Courier Service in Dhaka’s Hazaribagh area were allegedly attacked, vandalised and looted by a group demanding that future land rent payments be made to Sanjidul Islam Emon, a man described as a notorious criminal.
The attackers reportedly stole goods worth several lakh taka, removed CCTV surveillance equipment and took away several laptops after threatening security personnel at the premises.
The incident occurred at approximately 6.30 pm on Tuesday, 20 October, near Sikder Medical College in Hazaribagh. Mosharraf Hossain, officer-in-charge of Hazaribagh Police Station, confirmed that the attack had taken place.
According to officials of AJR Group, more than 100 individuals gathered outside the company’s premises on Tuesday evening. The group allegedly began by disabling CCTV cameras installed around the building before several masked and helmeted individuals climbed over the boundary wall and entered the compound.
Once inside, the intruders reportedly threatened security guards and proceeded towards the warehouse. They allegedly dismantled surveillance cameras and removed digital video recorders (DVRs), equipment normally used to store security footage.
The attackers then vandalised office furniture and stole several laptops, along with goods stored at the facility, company officials said.
The value of the stolen merchandise was estimated at several lakh taka, although the company did not provide a detailed breakdown of the losses.
AJR Group officials linked the attack to demands concerning rent payments for the land occupied by the courier company’s main warehouse and office.
They explained that AJR Courier Service had leased the property from Sikder Group approximately two years earlier through a contractual agreement. Following the arrangement, the company established its principal warehouse and administrative office on the site.
Since taking possession of the property, the company had continued paying rent to Sikder Group in accordance with the agreed terms, the officials maintained.
However, the attackers allegedly claimed that they had already spoken with the owner of Sikder Group and that the existing rental arrangement should be changed.
According to the company’s representatives, the intruders instructed security personnel that all future rent payments must be made to Sanjidul Islam Emon rather than Sikder Group.
They also allegedly warned that AJR Courier Service would not be allowed to continue operating from the premises unless the demand was met.
The reported threats, combined with the destruction of property and removal of valuable equipment, have raised concerns about the security of the company’s operations.
As the site serves as AJR Courier Service’s principal warehouse, damage to the facility could potentially affect the handling, storage and distribution of consignments. Such warehouses play an essential role in courier operations, where goods must be received, organised and dispatched to their intended destinations.
The alleged removal of surveillance cameras and recording devices is another significant aspect of the incident. CCTV systems can provide crucial evidence when investigators seek to identify suspects and reconstruct the circumstances surrounding an attack.
It remains unclear whether any footage from the premises was preserved before the recording equipment was taken away.
Although the attackers reportedly used Emon’s name while demanding rent payments, there has been no independent confirmation that he was directly involved in organising or carrying out the attack.
The claim that the assailants had reached an understanding with the owner of Sikder Group has also not been independently verified. The account of the alleged rental demands is based on statements provided by AJR Group officials.
Police have confirmed the incident, but no further details have been provided regarding the identities of the attackers, possible arrests or the registration of a formal case.
The allegations highlight concerns surrounding the use of intimidation and violence in disputes involving commercial premises. While disagreements over rental arrangements may arise between property owners and tenants, threats against employees, destruction of property and the removal of goods raise separate questions of criminal responsibility.
For AJR Courier Service, the immediate concerns include the reported financial losses, damage to its facilities and threats against personnel responsible for maintaining security.
The circumstances surrounding the attack, including the identities of those involved and the legitimacy of their alleged claims concerning the property, remain unresolved.
Establishing whether the attackers acted independently or under instructions from others will be crucial to determining responsibility for the incident. The extent of any subsequent police investigation or legal action has yet to be clarified.
