Gunmen fired two shots at the gate of an 11-storey building owned by an expatriate businessman in Chittagong Hamzarbagh area on Monday night, allegedly after a Tk50 lakh extortion demand went unmet.
The incident took place around 11pm, sparking panic among residents.
The building, Runa Tower, is owned by Mohammad Yusuf, whose two sons are expatriate businessmen. Their ancestral home is in Fatikchhari. Yusuf is the father-in-law of Azizur Rahman Aziz, general secretary of the Chittagong city unit of the banned Awami League-affiliated Swechchhasebak League. Aziz was arrested two days after the fall of the Awami League government on August 5, 2024, and remains in jail.
Building security guard Mohammad Alamgir Hossain said there was no electricity at the time.
“Two young men wearing pants and shirts suddenly arrived and asked us to close the gate. They then fired two shots at the gate before walking away. Hearing the gunshots, local residents gathered, and police later arrived,” he said.
Yusuf said his son Shawkat received a voice message on WhatsApp from a foreign number around noon on Monday, giving him one hour to pay Tk50 lakh.
According to Yusuf, the message claimed the senders knew where his children lived and worked and had details about their properties. They threatened to kill them if the money was not paid within the stipulated time.
Panchlaish police station Officer-in-Charge Jahedul Islam said gunmen fired at the building gate after the extortion demand was not met.
“We are working to identify and arrest those involved. No case has been filed yet,” he said.
The incident comes amid a series of alleged extortion-related attacks in Chittagong.
On July 13, associates of alleged criminal Mobarak Hossain Emon were accused of attacking and vandalising a businessman’s under-construction building in the Bor Dighirpar area of South Pahartali Ward after he allegedly refused to pay Tk20 lakh in extortion. A case was filed over the incident, followed by a demand for Tk50 lakh.
Earlier, on June 13, Emon’s associates were also accused of attacking and vandalising internet service provider DDN on Bakalia Access Road over an alleged demand for Tk2 crore.
Following the incidents, locals held human chains and press conferences demanding an end to extortion and Emon’s arrest.
Emon allegedly became increasingly involved in extortion and other criminal activities after August 5, 2024. He was arrested in Jessore on July 29 while allegedly attempting to flee to India and is currently on a 10-day remand.
