Gunmen Attack Chittagong Internet Firm and Loot 3.5 Million Taka

A brazen daylight assault on an internet service provider in Chittagong has left local business owners reeling. A gang of fifteen to twenty armed men stormed the office of Digital Dot Net (DDN) at around 12:30 pm on Monday. The facility, situated on the Chandanpura-Bakalia Access Road under the jurisdiction of the Chokbazar Police Station, was thoroughly ransacked. Beyond the extensive vandalism, the attackers managed to flee with 3.5 million Taka in cash, which had been earmarked for staff salaries.

The violent raid is directly linked to an extortion demand that occurred two days prior. Adil Bin Mamun, the proprietor of the company, revealed that he received a threatening telephone call from an international number. The caller identified himself as David Emon, a known alias for Mobarak Hossain Emon. During the conversation, Emon issued a chilling ultimatum, demanding a one-off payment of 20 million Taka alongside an ongoing monthly tribute of one million Taka. He bluntly informed the businessman that non-compliance would result in the syndicate taking over the enterprise.

When Mamun refused to acquiesce to the extortion, the gang targeted his commercial premises. Closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage captured the terrifying moments as the armed group breached the office. Brandishing locally manufactured weapons, the vandals smashed computers, damaged office furniture, and confiscated the mobile phones of the terrified staff. One individual was clearly seen using an axe to obliterate computer monitors and electronic hardware. Police authorities have visited the scene to review the footage, and the firm is currently preparing to file a formal criminal case.

This extortion ring is believed to operate under the command of Sajjad Ali, a notorious criminal syndicate leader currently fleeing justice abroad. Local investigators state that Emon, who issued the threats, openly boasted of his immunity during the phone call. He challenged the business owner to show his photograph to the Police Commissioner, implying that law enforcement could do nothing to stop him. To intimidate Mamun further, Emon cited a prior shooting incident at the residence of Mujibur Rahman, the owner of Smart Group, which was orchestrated by the same syndicate following a failed extortion bid.

The geographical proximity of these crimes has heightened anxiety within the neighbourhood. On 28 February, gunmen targeted the residence of Smart Group Director Mujibur Rahman despite the property being under police guard due to an earlier shooting on 2 January. Both attacks were linked to a multi-million Taka extortion demand by Sajjad Ali’s network. Furthermore, on 9 May, Emon reportedly threatened to shoot a journalist named Biplob Dey Partha within twenty-four hours unless a 5 million Taka demand was met, an incident that resulted in a general diary entry at the Kotwali Police Station.

According to police records, Mobarak Hossain Emon is the son of Md Musa from the Kanchan Nagar area in Chittagong’s Fatikchhari sub-district. He is named in at least seven criminal cases, including a double homicide in Bakalia on 30 March 2025 and the murder of a local criminal known as Dhakaiya Akbar at Patenga Beach on 23 May of the same year. Intelligence reports indicate that Emon is a skilled marksman who personally controls an arsenal of fifteen to twenty firearms.

With Sajjad Ali operating from overseas, the domestic wing of the syndicate is managed by Emon and his close associate, Mohammad Raihan. Raihan himself faces at least eight active cases involving extortion, murder, and weapons violations. Detectives estimate that Sajjad’s syndicate retains a network of at least fifty active shooters and logistical associates across Chittagong, enabling them to systematically target prominent businesses and individuals with impunity. Although multiple victims have stepped forward, the ringleaders remain at large.