2 arrested over attack on customs officials in Chattogram
DB believes the three were hired for cash to carry out the assault and scare the officials
The Detective Branch (DB) of the Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP) yesterday (11 December) arrested two individuals accused of attacking a private car carrying two customs officials last week.
Investigators revealed that the assault was carried out by three hired attackers, allegedly paid by an individual seeking to intimidate the revenue officers. Deputy Commissioner (West) of the DB, Mohammad Mahbub Alam Khan, confirmed the arrests.
The detainees, identified as Kazi Md Imon Hossain, 23, and Md Sujon, 24, both residents of the CDA Residential Area in Agrabad, were arrested from Sikdarpara in Bandarban Sadar.
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The ambush occurred at around 10:30am on 4 December in the Agrabad area under the Double Mooring Police Station, targeting Revenue Officer Md Asaduzzaman Khan and Assistant Revenue Officer Badrul Arefin Bhuiyan of Chattogram Customs on their way to work.
Police and the victims reported that three assailants on a motorcycle intercepted the officials' vehicle. One attacker, wielding a machete, allegedly smashed the windows and struck the car while shouting "shoot, shoot".
The officials escaped through a side lane and managed to find shelter before they were harmed.
They kept moving from one place to another, but we eventually managed to catch two of them. They have already admitted to the attack, and we have leads on the third one
Following the incident, Asaduzzaman Khan filed a case with Double Mooring Police Station against three unidentified assailants, noting that he had previously received a threatening phone call on 5 October from a man identifying himself as Sazzad, prompting him to lodge a general diary with Bandar Police Station the next day.
DB officials used CCTV footage from the area to identify the three attackers. After tracking their movements for a week, detectives located two of them hiding in Bandarban.
"We've been trying to nab them for days," Mahbub Alam said. "They kept moving from one place to another, but we eventually managed to catch two of them. They have already admitted to the attack, and we have leads on the third one."
DB believes the three were hired for cash to carry out the assault and scare the officials. "We came to know who hired them and that the motorcycle used in the attack belonged to that person. We can't disclose his identity at this stage," the DB official added, saying they do not yet know the amount of payment.
Customs officials had previously suggested the attack was linked to their recent actions in blocking the illicit release of goods, including seizing two consignments worth nearly Tk40 crore, which they believe angered a vested group.
DB Deputy Commissioner Mahbub Alam stated that the investigation will seek to confirm this angle, adding that they will seek remand to further question the detainees.
Police are also checking the arrested men's backgrounds for political affiliations or prior criminal records.
