An engineer has alleged that his ancestral and legally purchased home in the Baigartek area of Pallabi, Dhaka, was demolished with a bulldozer after he refused to pay Tk 5 crore in extortion. He also alleged that belongings worth around Tk 2 crore were looted and taken away in nearly 10 trucks.

Engineer Mohammad Ali made the allegations at a press conference held at the Zahur Hossain Chowdhury Hall of the National Press Club in the capital on Sunday (September 20). He also sought urgent intervention from the authorities for his safety and legal protection.

In a written statement, Ali said a group of local individuals, including Principal Md Liakat Ali, Mahabub Alam Sheikh, Md Manik and Md Tuhin, had allegedly been demanding Tk 5 crore from him for a long time. After he refused to pay, the boundary wall of his property was vandalised on October 3, 2025. He said he subsequently held a press conference at the Dhaka Reporters Unity and submitted a written complaint at an army camp.

Later, on the night of April 30, a group of around 200 people allegedly attacked the house in Baigartek carrying firearms and sharp weapons. Ali claimed that the house was demolished using a bulldozer and that bricks, iron, tin sheets, auto-rickshaw batteries and other belongings of tenants, worth around Tk 2 crore, were taken away in about 10 trucks.

He alleged that despite seeking assistance from the national emergency service 999 and the officer-in-charge of Pallabi Police Station, he did not receive effective support. He also raised questions about the role of police personnel present while the house was being demolished.

Ali said he later filed Civil Suit No. 80/26 in a civil court and Petition Case No. 205/26 under Section 145 before the Additional District Magistrate’s Court seeking legal remedy. Although the court ordered that peace and order be maintained on the property, he alleged that attempts to occupy the land have continued in violation of the order.

He further said that activities were temporarily halted with the assistance of the deputy commissioner of the Mirpur division. However, on September 9, a group led by Liakat Ali and his son Golam Kawsar allegedly vandalised a shop again and demanded extortion money. Ali claimed that police officers visited the scene and witnessed the damaged wall but took no effective action.

He called for an impartial investigation into the allegations of property grabbing, vandalism, looting and extortion. He also demanded that law and order be maintained on the disputed property in light of the court order and pending cases, that any alleged police negligence during the incidents on April 30 and September 9 be investigated, and that the safety of his family and tenants be ensured regardless of political affiliation.

At the press conference, Engineer Mohammad Ali said he did not want to become involved in any political conflict. He expressed hope that any dispute over ownership of the property would be settled through the courts and urged the prime minister, the Ministry of Home Affairs and law enforcement agencies to intervene urgently.