A young man sustained severe injuries after being shot by unidentified assailants in broad daylight in the Sholashahar Forest Gate area of Chittagong on Monday.
The victim, identified as Imtiaz Sultan Ekram, was attacked at around 1:30 pm on 9 November near the eastern side of the Forest Gate under Panchlaish Police Station. Emergency responders and local residents rushed him to Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH), where he is undergoing treatment in critical condition.
According to police sources, five attackers arriving on two motorcycles executed the targeted shooting before fleeing the scene swiftly. The incident has caused widespread alarm in the bustling commercial hub of Chittagong, a city that has faced persistent challenges regarding urban crime, gang rivalries, and illicit firearm proliferation.
Following the attack, the victim’s wife, Suchi, broadcast a video on Facebook Live alleging that associates of a notorious fugitive criminal known as Sajjad Ali, alias “Boro Sajjad” (Big Sajjad), were responsible for the hit. In her emotional broadcast, she appealed directly to authorities to ensure her husband receives proper medical care at the hospital.
Law enforcement agencies revealed that Imtiaz and his wife have had a long-standing feud with Sajjad Hossain, alias “Choto Sajjad” (Little Sajjad), a key lieutenant of Boro Sajjad’s syndicate. Choto Sajjad was previously arrested by police from a shopping mall in Dhaka in March 2025. Records also show that the Special Response Battalion had apprehended Imtiaz with firearms near the Bayezid Bostami Link Road area earlier that year on 17 February.
Panchlaish Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Mozammel Haque confirmed the details of the attack, stating that police have initiated a comprehensive investigation. Detectives are currently reviewing closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage from surrounding establishments to identify the five gunmen and trace their escape route. Authorities are also scrutinising the allegations raised by the victim’s family to determine the precise motive behind the shooting and ascertain whether it stems from rivalries within local criminal networks.
