The office of a clearing-and-forwarding (C&F) businessman in Darshana, Chuadanga, was attacked and extensively vandalized over an extortion demand, according to a complaint filed by the affected businessman. He alleged that 2.33 million taka in cash was looted from the office during the attack, in addition to about 1.5 million taka in damage to furniture and other property.
The incident occurred around noon Friday (Sept. 4) at the office of Messrs Rifat Enterprise, located on the ground floor of the Rifat Residential Hotel near the Darshana railway yard.
The firm’s owner, importer-exporter and C&F businessman Rafiqul Islam, said that since the political changeover on Aug. 5, a self-interested faction had been branding him an “Awami League collaborator” and demanding large sums in extortion money. He said he had paid on several previous occasions to keep his business running, but a local criminal gang recently demanded a lump-sum payment of 2 million taka.
He alleged that when he refused to pay, his office was vandalized and his home was threatened with arson. He then informed the Chuadanga district police, after which he had been running his business under police protection.
Rafiqul Islam further alleged that on Friday, shortly before Jumma prayers, a group of armed men attacked his office after taking advantage of a temporary absence of the police officers assigned to protect him. They vandalized furniture and other property in the office, causing about 1.5 million taka in damage, and took 2.33 million taka in cash that was kept there.
He said the attackers came at him intending to kill him, and he narrowly escaped by taking refuge in a room at the Rifat Residential Hotel.
Police and local administration officials rushed to the scene after learning of the looting and vandalism, and the attackers fled.
Chuadanga Superintendent of Police Mohammad Ruhul Kabir Khan later inspected the scene. He said initial findings confirmed the attack, vandalism and looting at the C&F businessman’s office over an extortion demand. He said those involved had been identified and their names and addresses collected, and that they would be swiftly arrested and face legal action.