An expatriate family in Keraniganj has been left in state of acute distress and peril following a violent raid on their homestead by armed miscreants who demanded £125,000 (20 million Bangladeshi taka) in extortion money. The incident, which unfolded in the South Baluchar area of Hazratpur Union, saw land grabbers systematically dismantle the victim’s residence, loot household property, and seize agricultural land whilst local law enforcement allegedly refused to lodge an official complaint.
Addressing the media at a tearful press conference on Monday, the affected family members detailed the terrifying ordeal that transpired on the morning of Friday, 11 September. Aual Hossain, one of the sufferers, recounted how hired thugs from neighbouring districts coordinated with local terrorists to block off accessing roads. Establishing a perimeter to isolate the compound, the assailants cut internet communication wires and destroyed close-circuit security cameras before breaking into the residence. At the time of the breach, only three women were inside the property.
Although the family managed to call national emergency services, bringing police officers temporarily to the scene, the perpetrators reportedly resumed their destruction once the patrol departed. A tin-roofed structure was completely demolished, and the interior was stripped of all furniture and valuables.
The underlying dispute centres around a 211-decimal parcel of land in the Hazratpur area. According to legal documentation, the property belonged to the complainants’ late father through purchase, with all municipal taxes, revenue records, and land mutation clearances fully updated. The victimized family had previously filed a petition under Section 145 of the Code of Criminal Procedure regarding ownership rights over the plot.
During the assault, the aggressors also laid waste to agricultural assets on the land, destroying banana groves, mango trees, and vegetable plots, alongside taking harvested fish from the estate’s pond.
Assia, a distraught family member whose brothers reside and work abroad as non-political expatriates, voiced deep frustration over the local police force’s inaction. She urged higher administrative authorities to ensure their personal safety and restore law and order. When pressed for comment regarding the refusal to record the incident, the Officer-in-Charge of Keraniganj Model Police Station, Ruhul Kuddus, stated he had no immediate recollection of the event and promised to investigate the matter further.
