Police have said no case has been filed following Saturday’s shooting incident in Chattogram’s Chandanpura area, in which gunmen targeted the residence of a former member of parliament affiliated with the now-banned Awami League and a prominent local businessman.
The attack occurred despite the property being under police protection.
Law enforcement agencies claimed they have identified those involved, even though the victim has not lodged a complaint. Their names are not being disclosed in the interest of the investigation.
The attack took place at around 6:30am on Saturday, when assailants opened fire on the home of Smart Group Chairman Mostafizur Rahman in Chandanpura.
Police said that at the time of the incident, Mostafizur Rahman had finished Sehri and Fajr prayers and was preparing to sleep. Masked gunmen approached from the rear of the house and fired indiscriminately, discharging six to seven rounds.
CCTV footage shows four masked individuals advancing towards the residence carrying firearms. Sources said one of them was holding two pistols, another a submachine gun, a third a Chinese rifle, and the fourth a shotgun.
Chawkbazar Police Station Officer in Charge (OC) Babul Azad said the victim has not yet filed a case. “However, we have been able to identify those involved. Their names cannot be disclosed for the sake of the investigation,” he said.
He added that on 2 January this year, a case was filed after the same businessman received extortion demands. Four people were arrested in that case and a vehicle used in the attack was seized. One of the detainees gave a confessional statement before a court under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
The OC alleged that the group of “Boro Sazzad” was behind the attack.
Following the incident, surveillance in the area has been intensified and drives are under way to arrest those responsible, he said.
Expressing frustration, the businessman’s younger brother Mujibur Rahman told TIMES of Bangladesh that he could not understand how repeated attacks and shootings were taking place at the house despite police security.
He said the repeated life-threatening attacks had left them feeling extremely insecure.
The recurrence of such armed assaults despite strict police security has caused alarm in the area.
