Chattogram customs officials attacked after exposing illegal imports, fear syndicate retaliation

In a shocking escalation of threats, two customs officers in Chittagong were attacked while commuting through the Double Mooring area, with assailants smashing their car and issuing chilling warnings to shoot them. Authorities suspect that a syndicate involved in the illegal import of goods may be behind the assault.

The incident occurred today (4 December) around 10:30am in the CDA Residential Area under the Double Mooring police station. Inside the car were Md Asaduzzaman Khan, revenue officer of Chittagong Customs, and Badarul Arefin, assistant revenue officer (ARO).

Describing the incident to The Business Standard, Asaduzzaman Khan said, "On the way to the office, three men on a motorcycle suddenly stopped our car. They immediately began smashing the windows with crude weapons. One of them kept shouting at the others, 'Shoot them, shoot them!' We jumped out and ran into a nearby alley for safety. By the grace of God, we survived. We didn't hear any gunfire; we were just running for our lives. No one was seriously injured, but the car was badly damaged."

Asked about the possible perpetrators, Asaduzzaman Khan said the attack was likely linked to their recent work in the ARO branch, where they had uncovered irregularities and filed cases.  He recalled receiving a phone call on 5 October from an unknown person speaking in the Chittagong dialect, who threatened to kill him.

On 6 October, the officer filed a general diary (GD) at Bandar police station detailing the threat.

Deputy Commissioner of Chittagong Customs Md Tarek Mahmud told TBS that the officers had recently uncovered irregularities, including the illegal import of poppy seeds in two containers and refined sugar in another. 

He added that a syndicate had been operating through false declarations in cosmetics imports. Over the past two to three months, the syndicate was dismantled, prompting threats via multiple phone numbers. 

"A caller, claiming to be 'Sajjad,' even threatened to take their lives, though we do not know his exact identity. Today's attack is likely to be linked with these officers exposing irregularities," Mahmud said. He added that preparations to lodge a formal case are underway.

Double Mooring police officer-in-charge Babul Azad confirmed the development, "We have collected evidence from the scene, and preparations are ongoing to file a case."