An internet service provider's office in Chittagong was vandalized and looted on Monday after its owner allegedly refused to pay Tk2 crore in extortion.
The attack took place around 12:30pm at the office of Digital Dot Net (DDN) on the Chandanpura-Bakalia access road under Chawkbazar Police Station, where a group of armed men allegedly stormed the premises, destroyed equipment, and made off with cash.
Chawkbazar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Nur Hossain Mamun said investigators had identified the attackers as followers of fugitive criminal Sajjad Ali and were working to arrest those involved.
Police also said the same group had been linked to several recent extortion-related incidents in the city.
CCTV footage of the attack, which later circulated on social media, showed 15 to 20 armed men entering the DDN office, smashing computers, mobile phones, and office furniture. One attacker was seen using an ax to destroy equipment while others threatened employees.
Ridwanul Kabir, a director of DDN, alleged that the attackers also looted Tk35 lakh kept at the office to pay employees' salaries.
"About 15 to 20 armed men suddenly entered the office, carried out vandalism, and took away Tk35 lakh in cash," he said.
DDN owner Adil Bin Mamun said the attack came two days after he received a call from an overseas number from a man identifying himself as David Iman, also known as Mobarak Hossain Iman.
"He told me, 'If you want to do business, you will pay Tk2 crore as a one-time payment and Tk10 lakh every month. From now on, we will run the business,'" Adil said.
According to Adil, the group attacked the office after he refused to comply with the demand. He said police visited the scene, and a case was being prepared.
Adil said police identified David Iman as a follower of Sajjad Ali. He also claimed Iman told him to show his photograph to the Chittagong police commissioner, saying he was well known to law enforcement.
During the call, Iman allegedly referred to an earlier shooting at the residence of Smart Group owner Mujibur Rahman over an extortion dispute and asked whether Adil had become a bigger businessman than him.
Police said Monday's attack bore similarities to several recent extortion-related incidents attributed to the same network.
On May 9, journalist Biplob Dey Partha allegedly received a death threat from Mobarak Hossain Iman, who demanded Tk50 lakh and threatened to shoot him within 24 hours if the money was not paid. A general diary was later filed with Kotwali Police Station.
Monday's attack took place next to the residence of Smart Group Director Mujibur Rahman, where gunmen opened fire on February 28 despite police security. Police alleged Sajjad Ali's followers carried out that attack after failing to collect extortion money. The same residence was also targeted in a January 2 shooting that damaged windows and doors.
According to police, Mobarak Hossain Iman, son of Md Musa of Kanchannagar in Fatikchhari upazila, is accused in seven cases, including the Bakalia double murder on March 30, 2025, and the killing of criminal Dhakaiya Akbar at Patenga Sea Beach on May 23 that year.
Police alleged Iman is one of two men currently leading the criminal network of fugitive gangster Sajjad Ali, also known as Boro Sajjad, in Chittagong. The other, Mohammad Raihan, faces at least eight cases involving extortion, illegal arms, and murder.
According to investigators, Sajjad Ali's network includes at least 50 active gunmen and associates, with Iman and Raihan allegedly collecting extortion on behalf of the fugitive gangster.
