When a masked group of up to 40 men stormed a Chattogram internet provider, the violence on the ground was local, but the orders came from far beyond Bangladesh’s borders.
The daylight raid on Digital Dot Net (DDN), an internet service provider, came just forty-eight hours after its owner allegedly refused a Tk2 crore extortion demand.
In a whirlwind of violence lasting mere minutes, the gang vandalised the office, terrorised staff, and fled with Tk35 lakh in cash and valuables, sparking deep anxiety across the city’s commercial sector.
While the foot soldiers struck in person, police reveal the strings were pulled from overseas. Chattogram Metropolitan Police Commissioner Hasan Mohammad Shawkat Ali confirmed the city is battling transnational syndicates.
“Those involved in Monday’s attack are linked to criminal networks operating from outside the country,” he told TIMES of Bangladesh.
Detectives have pointed the finger at notorious fugitive crime boss Sajjad Ali Khan, alias “Boro Sajjad.”
Investigators say he is orchestrating extortion rackets and violent enforcement from his hideout in Dubai, using local operatives to do his dirty work.
CMP Commissioner Shawkat Ali claimed that several suspects from the Sajjad gang have been identified, with legal proceedings underway.
Nevertheless, the attack underscores a gruelling challenge for Bangladeshi law enforcement – dismantling sophisticated criminal enterprises where the masterminds remain safely out of domestic reach while their local enforcers unleash chaos on the streets.
The three-minute attack
It took just three minutes for a masked, armed group to shatter the peace at the Chattogram city’s Maryam Heights office of Digital Dot Net (DDN). Shortly before noon on Monday, up to 40 men carrying local weapons stormed the third-floor office on the Chandanpura-Bakalia Access Road.
In a whirlwind of destruction, they smashed ten desktops, four laptops, biometric machines, and glass partitions before fleeing with Tk35 lakh in cash, phones, and wallets. Curiously, the company’s crucial fourth-floor data centre was left untouched.
The daytime raid has left staff deeply shaken. Marketing Executive Hossein Adiba Ferdous recalled how the attackers shattered the glass entrance and forced employees out.
Though spared from physical violence, the psychological toll is heavy.
“Since the attack, we have been worried about our safety,” Ferdous admitted.
Assistant Manager Ashikul Islam, returning from a quick tea run, arrived to find the office vandalised.
While shaken employees have reportedly identified several suspects from CCTV footage, including the younger brother of a notorious Chandgaon criminal, police are yet to make any arrests, more than 24 hours after the brazen assault.
Extortion call before attack
The seeds of Monday’s violence were sown on 11 July, when Digital Dot Net (DDN) owner Adil Bin Mamun received a chilling ultimatum via WhatsApp.
A caller introducing himself as David Imon, identified by police as Mobarak Hossain Imon, allegedly demanded a Tk2 crore lump sum alongside a monthly Tk10 lakh protection fee on behalf of the notorious Boro Sajjad network.
In a leaked audio recording, the caller delivered a stark warning, “You’ve been doing business for 16 or 17 years. If you want to continue, you must pay… Otherwise, my boys will run your business.”
When Mamun refused, the syndicate retaliated. During the swift raid that followed, the attackers looted three mobile phones, a printer, and a shoulder bag belonging to director Ariful Islam, which contained Tk35 lakh in cash.
Investigators are now treating the brazen daylight assault as a direct consequence of the owner’s defiance.
Businesses question police activity
Despite the daylight raid, a breakdown in communication has left the targeted business exposed.
Chawkbazar Police Station Inspector Mohammad Nazer Hossain said that Digital Dot Net (DDN) had failed to report the initial extortion threats before the violence erupted.
“Had we known earlier, we could have arranged security,” he explained.
However, the company claims it has been left out in the cold even after the high-profile assault.
DDN’s Head of Sales, Md Robiul Hossain Rakib, expressed deep frustration over the lack of a police presence.
“Our office was attacked in broad daylight, yet we have not received any police security. We want those responsible brought to justice,” he urged, highlighting the growing anxiety among local businesses left to fend for themselves.
Growing footprint of alleged syndicate
The attack on DDN is merely the latest flashpoint in a widening campaign of terror waged by the Boro Sajjad network.
Investigators reveal the syndicate’s tentacles now stretch across Bayezid Bostami, Panchlaish, Chandgaon, Hathazari, Fatikchhari, and Raozan, leaving a trail of violence in their wake.
Earlier this year, gunmen linked to the network twice opened fire on the home of businessman and former MP Mujibur Rahman, owner of Smart Group of Industries, after he refused a staggering Tk10 crore demand.
Other targets have faced similar brutality: a Khulshi businessman was assaulted over a Tk50 lakh demand, while G Dot Tech Solution in Chandgaon was ransacked after defying a Tk30 lakh shakedown.
Last August, a Hathazari trader also came under gunfire.
As the syndicate’s footprint expands, local business leaders warn that a climate of fear is taking hold, leaving entrepreneurs terrified of the violent fallout of simply saying no.
The reach of the crime network run from abroad
The Boro Sajjad syndicate thrives on a dual-layered structure – local foot soldiers executing the chaos while senior architects pull the strings from abroad.
Before his arrest last year, domestic operations were spearheaded by Sajjad Hossain, alias “Choto Sajjad.”
Following his imprisonment, operational leadership of the estimated 50-strong gang shifted to trusted lieutenants Mobarak Hossain Imon, Mohammad Raihan, and Borhan Uddin.
Investigators reveal the syndicate relies on hit-and-run tactics, launching lightning-fast daylight raids in urban zones before melting away into safe houses, including remote hideouts in the Chattogram Hill Tracts.
Despite police filing numerous cases, netting low-level operatives, and seizing weapons since August 2024, the masterminds remain frustratingly beyond the reach of local law enforcement.
Eight held over 13 July attack
Police arrested eight individuals in connection with the 13 July attack on DDN. Additional Police Commissioner (Crime) Muhammad Faisal Ahmed confirmed on Wednesday that the suspects were identified through local intelligence and an extensive analysis of CCTV footage. Following their court appearance, the suspects were sent to jail.
The arrestees are – Md Yunus, Imran Hossain Chang, Akbar Hossain, Md Nayan, Md Suman, Md Amir Hossain (alias Monir Prakash Keherman), Md Gias Uddin, and Md Abdul Nahid (alias Farhad).
‘We use guns, not hammers’
Meanwhile, David Imon, an associate of fugitive terrorist Bara Sajjad, has fired back against the attack allegations. In a defiant audio message, Imon dismissed the claims entirely, saying, “Vandalising the DDN office? Not a chance. If we wanted to hit them, we wouldn’t have shown up with mere sticks and hammers, we would have opened fire directly, just like you’ve seen us do before.” Imon also flatly denied any extortion or ransom demands.
