An armed mob equipped with machetes, cleavers, and firearms targeted an eight-storey residential building in the Adabor area of the capital on Saturday morning in an apparent attempt to forcibly seize the property. The violent assault on the house in Shamoli Housing, owned by local businessman Aminur Rahman, left residents terrified and exposed deep anxieties over landlord security in the neighbourhood.
According to family members and eyewitnesses, the attack began at around 6:30 am when a group of 15 to 20 individuals converged on the residence. After briefly surveying the perimeter, four men approached the primary entrance. Two were brandishing cleavers, one carried a heavy curved machete, and another stood slightly back with a handgun, issuing direct instructions to the group.
The gang demanded immediate entry, ordering the occupants to vacate the premises while threatening them for money. “Pay up! You live in this house, so why aren’t you paying money? Get out!” the assailants shouted from outside. When the occupants refused to open the doors, the armed men unleashed a barrage of strikes against the main steel gate using their sharp weapons. They shattered security cameras mounted near the doorway and hurled bricks, smashing multiple glass windows on the first and second floors. Unable to breach the reinforced entrance, the gang fled after five minutes of intense vandalisation.
The violent encounter marks the latest chapter in an ongoing property dispute. Monir Hossain, nephew of the homeowner, revealed that the property had previously been illegally occupied on 17 August 2024 by a man named Khorshed Alam. Following inaction from local police regarding initial complaints, the family pursued legal redress through the courts. The case was subsequently handed over to the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI), which conducted a four-month enquiry before helping the family regain possession of their home on 12 March.
Despite the PBI submitting a formal charge sheet to the court, the family remains in the dark regarding its findings and continues to face intense intimidation. Monir expressed grave frustration over the police response time on Saturday, noting that despite calling the national emergency helpline 999 immediately as the attack began, officers did not arrive until nearly three hours later at 9:45 am.
The family has lodged a formal complaint with Adabor Police Station, though they fear further retaliatory attacks. Officer-in-Charge of Adabor Police Station, Zahidul Islam, confirmed that officers inspected the crime scene and that an investigation into the incident is currently underway.
