Ex-caretaker’s claims of hidden wealth sparked mob break-in at Gulshan home

Police have arrested three people for allegedly breaking into and vandalising a house in Dhaka's Gulshan.

Muhammad Talebur Rahman, deputy commissioner (media) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, said they were taken into custody shortly after the incident took place on Tuesday night.

The suspects have been identified as Jewel Khandakar, 48, his son Shakil Khandakar, 23, and Shakil Ahmed, 28. A gold ring and a necklace were recovered from the father-son duo.

According to Talebur, a mob of over 100 people broke into the apartment, belonging to former lawmaker Tanveer Imam’s ex-wife, around midnight under the pretense of conducting an "investigation", claiming to have information about a large sum of money, illegal weapons, and the presence of Awami League associates inside.

They ended up ransacking and vandalising the apartment.

During the incident, Jewel, who introduced himself as the central general secretary of the "Jatiyatabadi Drivers’ Association", the BNP's transport wing, was seen giving instructions to the others.

According to Gulshan Police Station chief Mahbubur Rahman, Shakil Ahmed had previously worked as the caretaker of the house on road No 81.

Following the break-in, the current caretaker, Abdul Mannan, filed a case at Gulshan Police Station against the three arrested suspects and 14-15 unidentified individuals.

Based on information obtained from the detainees, Mahbubur said, "Preliminary investigations suggest that Shakil Ahmed spread a rumour that a search of the house could uncover Tk 20-30 billion."

Police suspect the intruders targeted the house with the intent to commit a robbery.

However, Mahbubur said that it remained unclear whether anything was actually stolen.