Authorities in Meherpur’s Gangni Upazila have recovered two improvised explosive devices and a threatening note demanding ransom outside the residence of an overseas Bangladeshi. The note demanded BDT 150,000 and warned that failure to comply would result in harm to both the individual and his property.
According to police and local sources, Mithun Hossain, a Bangladeshi expatriate currently residing in Singapore, recently completed the construction of a building in his native village of Sohagolpur. Early on Sunday morning, his family discovered two suspicious devices along with a handwritten note placed at the front gate of their property. They immediately informed the Gangni police station.
The note read:
“Respected Uncle, greetings. We hope you are well. The building has turned out beautifully and must have cost a lot. Since you did not provide sweets to the local elders, we have sent a special sweet for them. To receive our sweet, please send BDT 150,000 to this number. Failure to comply will result in the loss of both your son and the building.”
A police team from Dhala Camp, Gangni, quickly arrived at the scene and retrieved the two devices wrapped in red tape along with the note. For safety reasons, the devices were secured in water- and sand-filled containers before being transported to the police station for further examination.
OC Uttam Kumar Das of Gangni police station stated that the case is being treated with the utmost seriousness. “A special investigation team has been assigned to identify and apprehend those responsible,” he said. He further appealed to local residents to remain calm and report any suspicious activities immediately.
Local villagers expressed concern, noting that such incidents are rare in Sohagolpur. Following recent threats, security measures around properties owned by expatriates in the area have been significantly strengthened.
Authorities suspect the involvement of an organised local gang behind the attack and have increased patrols and security to ensure the safety of residents and overseas returnees.
A summary of the incident is provided below:
| Subject | Details |
|---|---|
| Incident Location | Sohagolpur Village, Gangni Upazila, Meherpur |
| Targeted Individual | Mithun Hossain, Singapore-based expatriate |
| Recovered Items | 2 improvised explosive devices, 1 threatening note |
| Ransom Demanded | BDT 150,000 |
| Threat Type | Threat to life and property |
| Police Action | Items secured at police station, investigation ongoing |
| Police Officer | OC Uttam Kumar Das |
Police have urged expatriates and local residents to exercise vigilance and report any unusual activity to the authorities, while efforts continue to dismantle the gang suspected to be operating in the area.