Firing at expatriate's building over unpaid 5 million Tk extortion in Chattogram

Bullets were reportedly fired targeting the gate of an expatriate businessman's building in the Hamjarbagh area under Panchlaish Police Station in Chattogram city after a demand for 5 million taka in extortion went unmet. The incident took place around 11pm, spreading panic among local residents on Monday (August 10).

The building, named Runa Tower, is an 11-story structure owned by Mohammad Yusuf, whose two sons are expatriate businessmen. Their ancestral home is in Fatikchhari, Chattogram. Yusuf is the father-in-law of Azizur Rahman Aziz, the jailed former general secretary of the banned Chattogram city committee of Swechchhasebak League, who was arrested two days after the fall of the Awami League government on August 5, 2024.

According to the building's security guard, Md. Alamgir, there was no electricity in the area on Monday night. At that time, two youths wearing pants and shirts approached him, told him to stay inside the gate, and instructed him to lock it. They then fired two shots targeting the gate and walked away. Hearing the gunshots, nearby residents gathered, and police subsequently arrived at the scene.

Building owner Mohammad Yusuf stated that around 12pm on Monday, a voice message was sent via WhatsApp to his son Shawkat’s number from a foreign phone number. The message claimed that the senders knew where his children were, what they did, and where all their properties were located. He was instructed to pay 5 million taka according to the directives of an "older brother" within one hour, or face death threats.

An eyewitness, a nearby shopkeeper, said he was inside his shop when he suddenly heard gunfire and ran outside to see two young men running away.

Panchlaish Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Zahedul Islam stated that shots were fired targeting a building gate in the Hamjarbagh area over unpaid extortion money. Efforts are underway to identify those involved and arrest them. No case has been filed at the station yet in connection with the incident.

Previously, on July 13, supporters of terrorist Mubarak Hossain Imon were accused of attacking and vandalizing an under-construction building belonging to businessman Jasim Uddin in the Borodighirpar area under South Pahartali Ward of the Chattogram City Corporation after a demand for 2 million taka in extortion was denied. Following a case filed over that incident, allegations were made that an additional 5 million taka in extortion was demanded.

Before that, on June 13, Imon’s supporters were accused of attacking and vandalizing the internet service provider DDN on Bakalia Access Road in the city, demanding 2 million taka in extortion. Following these incidents, local businessmen held human chains and press conferences demanding an end to extortion and the arrest of Imon.

Imon reportedly became reckless in extortion and terrorist activities after August 5, 2024. He was later arrested from Jashore on July 29 while attempting to flee to India and is currently in police custody on a 10-day remand.