Gunfire at Ctg residential building after Tk50 lakh extortion demand
Police are investigating whether the shooting at Runa Tower was linked to an alleged extortion demand made to the building owner’s expatriate son.
Highlights
- Two youths fired two rounds at the gate of Runa Tower in Hamzarbagh
- The building owner's expatriate son was allegedly asked for Tk50 lakh
- Police are investigating whether the shooting was linked to the extortion demand
- No arrests have been reported so far
A residential building owned by an expatriate family came under gunfire in Chattogram after the owner's expatriate son allegedly received a demand for Tk50 lakh in extortion.
Two youths fired two rounds at the gate of Runa Tower in the Hamzarbagh area under Panchlaish Police Station around 10:30pm yesterday (10 August), according to police.
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"Two youths went to the building gate and fired shots. Before that, they spoke to the security guard. They fired two rounds at the gate while leaving," Chattogram Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner (North) Hasan Mostofa Swapan told The Business Standard.
He said the building's owner, Haji Yunus, has two sons living in the Middle East, one of whom recently returned to Bangladesh.
A few days before the shooting, the son received a voice message from an internet-based number demanding Tk50 lakh, the police official said.
"We are investigating the matter seriously. We are looking into who carried out the shooting and whether there is any connection with the extortion demand," Swapan said.
He said police suspect the shooting may be linked to the extortion demand, although the connection has not yet been established.
No arrests have been reported in connection with the incident so far.
Recent attacks linked to extortion allegations
The shooting comes amid several recent incidents involving gunfire, attacks and vandalism over alleged extortion demands in different parts of Chattogram.
On 2 January and 29 February, gunmen allegedly fired at the residence of Mujibul Rahman, managing director of Smart Group and former lawmaker from Chattogram-16, in two separate incidents. The attacks were allegedly carried out after extortion demands were not met.
On 13 July, the office of internet service provider DDN on Bakalia Access Road was attacked and vandalised, with Tk30 lakh reportedly looted. The company's owners alleged that Mobarak Hossain Emon alias David Emon, who is based abroad, had demanded Tk2 crore as a one-time payment and Tk10 lakh every month in extortion.
On 26 July, a group allegedly attacked the under-construction house of wholesale rice trader Jasim Uddin in Hathazari and exploded a crude bomb. He was also allegedly asked to pay Tk20 lakh in extortion.
