Mob ransacks Gulshan flat late at night

A mob stormed a flat in the capital's Gulshan on Tuesday night, claiming that it belongs to Tanvir Imam, the son of HT Imam, who was an adviser to the ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina.

Alleging that a large cache of illegal weapons and cash were there, the mob ransacked the flat.

Mokhlesur Rahman, inspector (investigation) of Gulshan Police Station, told The Daily Star the flat does not belong to HT Imam or his son.

The daughter of the flat owner, one Rahman, had married Tanvir, a former lawmaker, but they got separated around 20-25 years ago.

Talebur Rahman, deputy commissioner (media) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, said a former caretaker of the building Shakil Ahmed, 28, instigated the mob by spreading rumours that Tk 200-300 crore might be stashed in the flat.

Police arrested Shakil and two others in this connection. Incumbent caretaker Abdul Mannan filed a case with Gulshan Police Station.

The two other arrestees are Shakil Khandakar, 24, and his father Jewel Khandakar, 48.

The vandalism began after the intruders, identifying themselves as locals, carried out a "search" around 11:30pm on Tuesday.

They told reporters that they had information that apart from illegal firearms and cash, people involved in killing student protesters were holed up there.

As the crowd gathered in and around the building near Shahabuddin Park in Gulshan-2, journalists and Youtubers followed. Some of the intruders said they called the media to cover their search.

They chanted anti-Awami League slogans. At one stage, they broke open the door of the flat. The entire incident was broadcast live by some TV channels.

On information, police and later army personnel rushed there and intervened.

Before leaving the building, journalists talked to some of the intruders who said they did not find any illegal firearms, cash or any suspects.

One youth, who identified himself as Shakil Ahmed, told reporters, "We are locals and we entered the flat to see if any illegal firearms or money was kept there."

When a journalist asked whether they have any permission to conduct such a search, he said, "We did it on our own."

Shakil said they had informed the law enforcers about their suspicion, but they did not take any action.

Talking to reporters, caretaker Mannan said the flat was owned by one Rahman, who was Tanvir's father-in-law.

The couple was divorced long ago, possibly in 2001.

Mannan said the people broke the door and entered the flat. "We tried to resist but failed. They ransacked the flat."

Meanwhile, the chief adviser's press wing yesterday said another group attempted to enter the house on Monday night under a similar pretext but was dispersed by police.

The home ministry has reiterated that no individual should take the law into their own hands, said a statement of the press wing.