What began as a sacred community celebration descended into violence in Raozan upazila, Chittagong, after a group of guests attending a family-hosted Eid-e-Miladunnabi gathering allegedly demanded two lakh taka in extortion money and launched a brutal assault on the host’s family when refused. The shocking incident, which unfolded on Sunday afternoon in the Panchpukuria area of Janipathor, left four women injured, including one who suffered a broken arm and another who was sexually harassed.
The host, Mofizur Rahman, had organised a religious mahfil and feast at his ancestral home to mark Eid-e-Miladunnabi, catering food for several hundred attendees. Among the invited guests were local residents Md Rubel, 27; Nuru Salam, 35; Md Iqbal, 40; Chappiye, 25; Md Farooq, 30; and a group of 20 to 22 unidentified individuals. According to the formal complaint filed at Raozan Police Station, the event proceeded smoothly until approximately 3:00 pm, when, after finishing their meals, Rubel and his companions abruptly confronted Mofizur to demand a cash payment of two lakh taka.
When Mofizur firmly refused to comply with the extortion demand, Rubel hurled verbal abuse and attempted to physically attack him, only to be turned away temporarily when local residents intervened.
However, the harassment escalated shortly afterwards. At around 3:30 pm, Rubel telephoned Mofizur to repeat the extortion demand and issue dire threats. Within moments, the accused assembled a larger mob and blockaded the road outside Mofizur’s residence. As Mofizur’s family members boarded a CNG-run auto-rickshaw to head toward their permanent residence in the Oxygen area under Bayezid Police Station, the gang intercepted the vehicle and resumed their extortion demands.
The encounter quickly turned violent. The complaint details how Rubel attempted to sexually molest Mofizur’s 19-year-old cousin, Mahi Akter, before beating her severely with a wooden branch, leaving her with bloody injuries. When Mofizur’s 20-year-old sister, Moriam Begum, attempted to protect her, the attackers struck her repeatedly with a wooden batten, fracturing the bone in her left elbow. Two other relatives—Mofizur’s wife Sadia Akter, 25, and another cousin, Moni Akter, 26—were also assaulted as they tried to intervene.
Before fleeing the scene, the attackers forcibly looted gold jewellery, including gold earrings and finger rings weighing over one bhori (approximately 11.66 grams), from the victimised women. Nearby residents eventually rushed to the victims’ aid, rescuing them and taking them to the Raozan Upazila Health Complex for emergency medical treatment.
Rejecting the allegations, the primary accused, Md Rubel, denied any involvement in the assault or extortion scheme. He admitted to attending the feast at Mofizur’s house during the afternoon but claimed he went straight to sleep afterwards and was unaware of the subsequent violence, dismissing the extortion allegations as entirely fabricated.
Confirming receipt of the written complaint naming five suspects alongside 20 to 22 unnamed individuals, Raozan Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Saiful Islam stated that law enforcement officers have initiated a formal investigation and will pursue strict legal action against those found responsible.
