Extortionists Halt Chittagong Construction Project After Violent Attack and Death Threats
A wave of intimidation has paralyzed a construction site in Chittagong, where a group of extortionists launched a violent assault and detonated explosives after the owner refused to pay a hefty protection fee. The incident, which occurred Sunday at a 10-story building under construction in the South Pahartali ward, has left local residents and workers in a state of alarm.
The owner of the building, wholesale trader Mohammad Jasim Uddin, reported that the attackers initially demanded 20 lakh taka. Following his refusal to pay, armed individuals wearing masks arrived at the site, assaulted workers, and shattered windows. During the chaos, a construction laborer identified as Hasan Saki was severely wounded with a sharp weapon, and the security guard on duty was also beaten.
According to Jasim Uddin, the situation escalated after he filed a police complaint at the Hathazari police station. He claims the extortionists have since raised their demand to 50 lakh taka and issued fresh threats of further violence if the payment is not met. The ongoing fear has brought construction activity at the site to a complete standstill, as the 25 to 30 workers previously employed at the project have refused to return out of concern for their safety.
Local residents expressed significant distress, noting that this level of organized extortion is unprecedented in the area. While neighbors have remained largely silent regarding the identities of the perpetrators, they have organized a protest human chain scheduled for Tuesday on the Oxygen-Hathazari road to demand security. Reports suggest that at least eight to ten other construction projects in the vicinity have been targeted by similar extortion attempts.
Authorities have responded to the mounting tension by increasing patrols in the area. Additional Superintendent of Police for the Hathazari Circle, Kazi Md. Tarek Aziz, stated that law enforcement is actively working to identify and arrest the suspects. Officials have urged the public to remain calm, emphasizing that the investigation into the extortion ring is a priority. This incident follows a similar crackdown in the city’s Chawkbazar area last week, where police and the Rapid Action Battalion arrested 20 individuals involved in a violent attack on an internet service provider.
