Salman Muqtadir's BrownFish Studio looted, vandalised over alleged refusal to pay extortion
No casualties so far; Salman says BNP men attacked after the housing project landowner allegedly refused to pay extortion.
Highlights:
- Armed group attacks, vandalises, and loots BrownFish Studio
- At least 100-150 attackers reportedly stormed Salman Muqtadir's studio
- All studio equipment, furniture, and CCTV cameras destroyed
- Extortion demands were allegedly made to housing project landowner
- Attack on entire project linked to unmet extortion demands
- Salman says local BNP men carried out attack
- Police detained two suspects
- Salman vows to rebuild bigger after attack
A group of armed people attacked, vandalised, and looted BrownFish Studio, founded by popular content creator Salman Mohammad Muqtadir, at the New Gini Condominium City near the ECB Chattar area in Dhaka late on Saturday night (26 September).
The attack and looting took place after reported extortion demands made to the landowner of the real estate project were not met, according to witnesses and local sources.
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The studio is located at 562, South Manikdi, ECB Chattar, inside a 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.
Most of the professional production equipment, CCTV cameras, and furniture inside the studio, located inside the housing project owned by New Gini Properties Ltd, had either been vandalised and left in disarray or looted.
According to one of the two studio caretakers, who was present and luckily survived the attack, at least 100-150 people forcibly entered the building around 10:30pm. Then they made their way to the studio, broke open the shutter door, and proceeded to vandalise and loot.
Many of the attackers were wearing face masks and wielding firearms, sharp weapons, and other locally-made weapons. They also looted much of the studio's equipment before leaving, the employee told reporters at the scene.
At one point, both caretakers took shelter in the toilet, but the attackers also went there and, threatening them with weapons, took their mobile phones and wallets.
The housing society's owners said the project came under attack in the same manner about two months ago, when the attackers allegedly demanded a large sum of money.
The famous YouTuber himself also disclosed the matter in a video posted on his verified Facebook page at 1:33am today (27 September), saying that, by the grace of Allah, none of his employees was hurt during the attack.
According to Salman, the attack took place in several areas of the housing project, and it was carried out by a group of local BNP men who had demanded extortion money from the landowner and were apparently denied.
He also said that no one had personally demanded extortion from him.
Talking to reporters at the scene, Salman said, "Those who attacked may not have known that this was my studio. The landowner, or something, may possibly be an Awami League supporter — I don't know. Perhaps something happened between him and someone over an extortion demand, where they demanded money or something.
"Maybe there was an argument because he didn't pay. I don't know what happened behind the scenes. So, because they [attackers] wanted revenge, people like us got caught in the middle."
"They wanted to damage his property, and my property got caught in the middle. And that's just Bangladesh. I'm not blaming anyone. Nothing new to say. This is Bangladesh," said the 33-year-old, who founded the studio in April this year with other partners.
He also told reporters that police had detained two men from the scene. "Not sure how long they will remain in custody. Maybe they [police] will feed them [detainees] and let them go," he said in jest.
Talking to reporters, Cantonment Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Muhammad Gias Uddin said, "An office in the ECB area was attacked over a dispute centring on the occupation of land. After receiving the news, police went to the spot and brought the situation under control. Two people were detained from the scene with knives."
He also said legal action in connection with the incident was underway.
Salman, who has used his voice to challenge injustices and advocate for change over the years, including during the 2024 July Uprising and 2018 road safety movement, said he would file a case over the attack.
'I will do something bigger than this'
Salman, in a Facebook post on 22 April, dubbed BrownFish Studio as the first-ever hyper aesthetic studio in Bangladesh, saying it has indoor parking for car shoots, unique modular backdrops, a cafeteria, a general makeup room, a VIP lounge, a play corner for artists who are parents, an in-house post-production team, casting and creators management, and a massive inventory of life-size and imported props.
The studio, designed for podcasts, commercials, photo shoots, technology-related projects, automotive shoots, reels, films, portfolios, and music productions, had at least 29 CCTV cameras – all of which were destroyed in the attack – and face lock access.
In the video he shared, Salman said, "This entire attack has fully destroyed our studio… This video has been made especially for our Home Affairs Minister Salahuddin Ahmed. Please don't take any tension. This is normal in Bangladesh. That's why I'm smiling."
"There has never been another studio like this in Bangladesh. In Bangladesh's arts, culture, and entertainment industry, this was the only one. Even FDC doesn't have what we had here. And it has been destroyed," he said.
Showing the destruction to his viewers, Salman continued, "Look at what I have built over the past 12 years or more. Look at this dream. I came from a small room to this — to what became one of the biggest studios in Bangladesh. This is the end result.
"… Everything has been broken and destroyed. There is absolutely nothing left."
"Whoever broke this - these BNP people, your extortion can't take away my dream. Your extortion keeps you poor and miserable because you cannot dream. No matter how much you steal or extort, you cannot become bigger than this. This is your level," said the popular artiste.
"I will start working again tomorrow. You don't know Salman Muqtadir. I will do something bigger than this. Inshallah," he told his colleagues, who were seen breaking down in tears.
"We are going to make something bigger than this," said Salman, who rose to fame during his teen years and is widely recognised as the pioneer of the YouTube content creation scene in Bangladesh, as he comforted his colleagues.
Addressing his fans, he said, "If you want to stay in Bangladesh, please flatter people and support extortion a little so that something like this doesn't happen to you.
"Unfortunately, I cannot support Bangladesh's culture. Two trucks filled with people came, and I simply cannot flatter them or behave that way. I cannot compromise on that. I will not do it. But I am capable of continuing and moving forward."
He continued, "However, 99.9% of Bangladeshis will remain trapped in this. That is why I always say: I have the strength, I have the power, I have the wisdom, I have the courage. I will get through it at any time. If you guys do not make the right decision at the right time in Bangladesh, I'm saying it again: this is Bangladesh.
"This Bangladesh is not for me. So, if you want to stay in Bangladesh and cannot become like me, it's time to move."
"And Salahuddin Ahmed, great job. I love your work. Thank you so much. BNP — great work," he said satirically, ending the video.
'Whatever happens in Bangladesh happens politically'
Salman, who came to the scene after arriving in Dhaka from Chattogram, told reporters that he did not know the extent of the damage and loss at the time and would be able to say after talking to his team.
"No calculation has been done yet. I never measure anything in terms of money. I can start everything over again. Money is not an issue for me. If I want to, I can make a lot of money tomorrow. The projects of a few clients would be enough — more than enough," he said.
"I have been in this industry for so long, and people have loved me all this time. That is what I have earned. This is something I cannot actually buy with money, nor can I sell it. But this incident has left my employees very shaken.
"How I can help them regain their balance, how I can give them a little more courage — that is my next target. I'll think about the money later. I'm not worried about the money," he stressed.
Asked whether he knew the political identity of the attackers, Salman said, "Whatever happens in Bangladesh happens politically. There is nothing personal or non-political here; everything is political. Everything in Bangladesh is political — from every child to every adult, from birth to death."
Responding to a question, he said, "I just learned that it happened because they [landowner] didn't pay extortion. But they [attackers] never asked me for any extortion money. If they had asked me, I definitely would have paid. Of course, if I could afford it, I would have paid.
"But I have no idea why they [landowner] didn't pay or how much they didn't pay. But I don't care. I mean, whatever the reason, it happened. This is Bangladesh. We have to acknowledge this."
Salman added, "I don't believe in the law in Bangladesh. I'm very much an atheist when it comes to the law in Bangladesh. So, I'm not taking any action from my side. But a case has to be filed, just as a formality."
Replying to another query, he said, "I thought it was hostility towards me. But I saw that they attacked the entire [housing] project. So, I'm sure that something project-related happened — as far as I can tell, they attacked the project as a whole.
"So, the landowner would be able to explain that better. I haven't spoken to him yet. But I heard about it, and I've been trying to call him, but he hasn't answered."
Responding to a question, Salman said, "The situation will get worse. There will be more attacks, more rape, more murders. I don't know how many news reports there will be, but these things will continue.
"Whatever we see in the news, we tend to think that it is the eternal truth. If something doesn't make the news, we think perhaps it never happened."
He continued, "So, whatever is happening in Bangladesh now is not just Bangladesh's failure. It is the failure of every person in Bangladesh, the failure of every political party. It is my failure too.
"So, since I am acknowledging my failure, I think every member of every political party can accept that they have failed, that they are incompetent… Let's see what they say."
