Customs officers escape machete ambush en route to office in Chattogram

The government officials say they had an extremely close shave with the assailants

A routine commute to work has turned into a fight for survival as two customs officials have been ambushed by machete-wielding attackers in Chattogram.

The attack occurred at 10:35am on Thursday in the Agrabad CDA residential area, according to the victims.

The attack left the car’s windows smashed.

The two officials targeted in the attack were Md Asaduzzaman Khan, a revenue officer of Chattogram Customs, and Badrul Arefin, an assistant revenue officer of the same office.

“We were heading for the office when three miscreants on a motorcycle waylaid our car and started hitting at the window with machetes,” said Asaduzzaman.

The assailants had also threatened to open fire on them, sending the government officers on the run to save their lives, the victims said.

Asaduzzaman had filed a general diary a few days ago after receiving threats over the phone.

Double Mooring Police Station chief Babul Azad said they were scrutinising CCTV footage.

“The motive is primarily thought to be previous enmity,” he said.

Police have not yet received any complaint over the matter.