AJR Courier Service, located in the Hazaribagh area of Dhaka, has become the target of repeated violent attacks, sparking widespread concern over security and the rule of law. Within a span of just four days, the facility has been vandalized twice, leaving staff members in a state of constant fear and uncertainty.
The initial incident occurred on Tuesday evening when a group of masked assailants stormed the courier service's office near Sikdar Medical College. According to witnesses, the attackers acted with calculated precision, disabling CCTV cameras before scaling the walls to enter the premises. They held security guards hostage and looted goods, including laptops, worth approximately 3.1 million BDT. Before fleeing, the perpetrators also stole the DVR system containing the surveillance footage.
Following the robbery, Afsar Uddin, the manager of the courier service, filed a formal case with the Hazaribagh Police Station. While law enforcement has managed to arrest eight individuals in connection with the incident, the situation escalated further on Friday night. The plaintiff received a chilling death threat over the phone, with the caller warning that he would be the first to be killed. This direct threat has significantly heightened the sense of insecurity among the employees.
On Saturday morning, the facility was targeted again. Around 5:30 AM, a group of 10 to 15 individuals arrived on five motorcycles and smashed the windshields of two covered vans parked in front of the office before fleeing the scene. This second act of vandalism within such a short timeframe has caused alarm among local business owners and residents alike.
Local police have stated that they are treating the matter with the utmost seriousness and are working to identify the remaining perpetrators. Despite assurances from law enforcement regarding increased security, the repeated attacks have severely disrupted the courier service's operations. The management has demanded a thorough investigation and exemplary punishment for those involved, fearing that the lack of immediate consequences for the initial attack emboldened the culprits to strike again.
Authorities have confirmed that the investigation is ongoing and that operations to apprehend all individuals involved in the attacks are underway. The incident highlights a growing concern regarding the safety of commercial establishments in the area and the effectiveness of current security measures.
