Land-grab bid behind attack on ECB Chattar housing project, Tk50cr in assets looted, alleges chairman
The attackers also hit content creator Salman Mohammad Muqtadir’s studio inside the five-bigha housing project where 17 multi-storey buildings are being constructed.
Assets worth around Tk50 crore were looted during an attack on a housing project near ECB Chattar in the capital late last night (26 September), according to New Gini Properties Ltd Chairman Nazim Uddin Bhuiyan, who alleged that the attack was part of a planned attempt to grab the land.
Two people were detained in connection with the attack, while gunshots were also reported during the incident.
The attackers also hit content creator Salman Mohammad Muqtadir's studio inside the five-bigha housing project where 17 multi-storey buildings are being constructed. As the buildings are still under construction, relatively few people live there. BrownFish Studio occupies the ground floor of one of the buildings.
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Several structures were vandalised, and CCTV cameras used for security were damaged, causing panic in the area.
Nazim alleged that an organised criminal group comprising members of a juvenile gang from Bhashantek and hired armed criminals carried out the attack.
He claimed the attackers looted assets worth around Tk50 crore from the project and extensively vandalised the entire site.
The housing project chairman also alleged that the group had been demanding extortion from the housing project for a long time and opened fire during the attack.
Project engineer Parvez was seriously injured after being struck on the head with a sharp weapon. He was admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital in critical condition. Several construction workers were also injured, according to Nazim.
He said cases and general diaries had previously been filed against the attackers over allegations of extortion and attempts to grab land.
Salman Muqtadir's studio also vandalised, looted
Salman Muqtadir's studio was vandalised and looted during the attack. He later spoke about the incident in a video posted on Facebook.
A caretaker of the studio said a group of 100 to 150 people forcibly entered the building at night after breaking the shutter and entered the studio. Many of them were wearing masks, while some were carrying firearms, sharp weapons, and locally made weapons.
In a video posted on his verified Facebook page at 1:33am today (27 September), Salman said none of his employees were injured.
He said several parts of the housing project were attacked and alleged that a group of local BNP activists carried out the attack after the landowner refused to pay extortion. However, Salman said no one personally demanded extortion from him.
Cantonment Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Gias Uddin said police went to the ECB Chattar area after receiving reports of an attack on an office over a land dispute and brought the situation under control.
Two people were detained at the scene with knives, he said. Legal proceedings against those involved are underway.
