RAB arrests eight over Chattogram internet service provider office attack

The force says the alleged “main coordinator” is among those held

The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has arrested eight people, including the alleged “main coordinator”, over the attack on an internet service provider in Chattogram after identifying suspects from CCTV footage.

The elite force said on Sunday that weapons allegedly used in the attack had also been recovered.

It also released CCTV images of four of those arrested and said more details would be disclosed at a press conference later in the day.

On Jul 13, a group attacked and vandalised the office of internet service provider Digital Dot Net (DDN) on Bakalia Access Road in the port city.

The company's owners said Mobarak Hossain Emon alias David Emon, a fugitive associate of Chattogram's listed crime figure Sajjad Ali Khan, had demanded Tk 20 million as a one-off payment and Tk 1 million a month in extortion.

They alleged the attack was carried out after they refused to pay.

An audio recording of a conversation between Emon and the company's owner has since circulated on social media.

A DDN official later filed a case with Chawkbazar Police Station, alleging that someone identifying himself as David Emon had called the company's owner Adil Bin Mahmud on Jul 11 and demanded the money.

According to the case document, after the demand was rejected, 30 to 40 armed attackers stormed the company's office, damaging computers, laptops, furniture and glass fittings, causing losses estimated at Tk 1.5 million.

The complaint also says the attackers took away three mobile phones, Tk 47,000 in cash from a drawer and a bag containing Tk 3.5 million belonging to one of the company's directors.

Police had earlier arrested another eight people two days after the attack.