Attempt to occupy house in Adabor, residents allege hacking at gate with ramda, cleavers

Residents of a house in the capital's Adabor have alleged that a group of 15 to 20 people, armed with ramda, cleavers and pistols, attacked the premises in an attempt to occupy an eight-storey building. During the incident, the building's main gate, CCTV cameras and windowpanes were vandalised. Later, unable to enter the building, the attackers left.

The incident took place around 6:30am on Saturday, September 26, at the house in Shyamoli Housing. The owner of the building is businessman Aminur Rahman.

According to Monir Hossain, nephew of the building's owner, 15 to 20 people came in front of the building in the morning and stayed there for some time. Later, four of them advanced towards the main gate. Two of them had cleavers and one had a ramda, he claimed. Another person was standing some distance from the gate with a pistol in hand, and he was giving instructions for the attack, he claimed.

Monir Hossain said the attackers first told everyone to open the building's main gate and come out. When no one came out, they continued to threaten, saying, "Give money, live in the house, do not give money, get out." At one point, they began hacking indiscriminately at the gate with cleavers and ramda.

He claimed the attackers vandalised the CCTV camera in front of the gate. They then threw pieces of brick and broke the glass of two more windows on the second floor. Unable to enter the building, they left the scene within about five minutes.

Monir Hossain said that during the attack, he called the emergency service number 999 and informed the police. However, he alleged, police arrived at the scene around 9:45am, about three hours later. He claimed the attackers could have been arrested if police had arrived quickly.

Monir Hossain said a complaint has been lodged with Adabor Police Station over the incident. However, they are not sure what action has been taken following the complaint.

Adabor Police Station Officer-in-Charge Zahidul Islam said police visited the building after the incident. The matter is being investigated.

The building owner's side claimed that attempts had been made to occupy the building before as well. Monir Hossain said that on August 17, 2024, a person named Khorshed Alam occupied the building. Later, after filing a complaint with Adabor Police Station without a resolution, they sought the court's intervention. When the court directed Adabor Police Station to investigate, the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) subsequently investigated.

In his words, they regained possession of the building on March 12. He said the PBI investigated for about four months and also submitted a charge sheet. However, they do not know what was mentioned in that charge sheet.

Meanwhile, Monir Hossain said the building's residents are in a state of panic over the fresh attack. He said they cannot leave their homes out of fear and are worried about when another attack might occur.