Dhaka Mob Rampage Hits Housing Project Over Land Dispute

A Dhaka mob rampage tore through a housing development at South Manikdi, near ECB Chattar, late on Saturday night. Police say 150 to 300 men stormed the New Gini Properties site around 11pm, firing an estimated 50 rounds, looting cash and equipment, and beating workers and security staff.

The attackers also ransacked BrownFish Studio, a production facility on the property run by popular content creator Salman Muqtadir, destroying cameras, lenses, lights and CCTV equipment. Three pickup trucks were reportedly used to haul away stolen materials, and 16 mobile phones were taken.

A land dispute turns violent

Investigators say the root cause is a dispute over roughly 35 kathas of land between the property’s developer, chairman Nazim Uddin Bhuiyan, and a retired army officer, Major General (retd) Golam Mahiuddin Chowdhury, who has been named as an accused. Four men, identified as Shahriar, Mamun, Aslam and Munna, have been arrested so far. A police case names 13 identified suspects and up to 200 unidentified attackers.

Damage estimates vary between outlets. Dhaka Tribune put looted cash at roughly 25 lakh taka, while The Business Standard reported combined vandalism and equipment losses above 2.9 crore taka, a gap likely reflecting different accounting rather than conflicting facts.

The rampage is the latest in what local media have called three violent mob incidents in Dhaka within 48 hours, prompting a public response from Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed. It comes days after Free Thought Daily reported on Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s return from Washington, a trip partly focused on reassuring investors about security and the rule of law.

For residents of South Manikdi, that reassurance now looks distant. Police say the investigation continues, with more arrests expected as officers trace the unidentified attackers named in the case.

Fact basis: Dhaka Tribune, “Gunfire, looting, vandalism in midnight Dhaka rampage,” Sept 28, 2026; The Business Standard, Sept 27-28, 2026; corroborated by The Daily Star and Prothom Alo.