City real estate office shot at amid extortion threats

Staff Reporter :

Amid ongoing nationwide outrage over the brutal killing of a scrap metal trader in Old Dhaka, a similar incident has occurred in the capital’s Pallabi area, where a real estate company was reportedly attacked following its refusal to pay extortion money.

The attack took place around 5:00pm on Friday at AK Builders, a real estate development firm located in the Alobdirtek area of Pallabi. According to company officials, the assault was carried out by a group of armed men after their demand for Tk 500 million in extortion money went unmet.

Police confirmed that at least four rounds were fired during the incident. One company official, Shariful Islam, sustained gunshot injuries and was admitted to Kurmitola General Hospital for treatment.

The chairman of AK Builders, Md Kaiyum Ali Khan, has been at the centre of the alleged extortion attempts. His son, Amimul Ehsan, informed the media on Saturday that a man identified as Jamil had
issued the extortion demand three weeks prior.

Ehsan said that the office had been attacked twice in recent weeks. “During the previous attack, CCTV cameras and other property were taken. Yesterday, 30 to 40 armed individuals returned and opened fire, injuring a staff member,” he said.

Officer-in-Charge of Pallabi Police Station, Shafiul Islam, confirmed that no formal case had yet been filed in relation to the shooting, and no arrests had been made as of Saturday. He added that an investigation is underway, and law enforcement is actively working to identify and apprehend those responsible.

The incident has added to growing public concern over organised crime and extortion in the capital, especially in the wake of the widely condemned Mitford murder, which has sparked countrywide protests and renewed calls for stronger action against criminal networks.