CHATTOGRAM, July 15, 2026 (BSS) - Police have arrested eight people in connection with the assault, vandalism and looting of the office of internet service provider Digital.net (DDN) in Chattogram following an alleged Tk 2 crore extortion attempt.

Speaking at a press briefing on Wednesday, Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP) Additional Commissioner (Crime) Muhammad Faisal Ahmed said the prime accused, David Emon, remains at large.

He said teams from Chawkbazar Police Station, the CMP and RAB-7 carried out coordinated raids across the city after the incident, leading to the arrests. Information gathered during interrogation has helped identify several other suspects, and drives are continuing to apprehend them.

The arrestees are Md. Yunus, 41, Imran Hossain Chang, 31, Akbar Hossain, 24, Md. Sumon, 27, Md. Monir alias Keherman, 38, Md. Gias Uddin, 21, Md. Nayon, 20 and Mohammad Abdul Nahid alias Farhad, 28.

Police said several of the suspects have multiple criminal cases against them, including charges of extortion, illegal arms possession, drug offences, kidnapping, human trafficking, smuggling, robbery, theft and violations of the Special Powers Act.

According to investigators, David Emon contacted the DDN owner via WhatsApp on July 11, demanding a one-time payment of Tk 2 crore and a monthly payment of Tk 10 lakh. When the demand was rejected, he allegedly issued threats.

Police said that on July 13, between 12:15 pm and 12:30 pm, a group of 30 to 40 armed men attacked the DDN office on the third floor of Mariam Heights in Monumiyaji Lane under Chawkbazar Police Station.

The attackers allegedly threatened employees, vandalised office equipment including computers, laptops, printers, fingerprint machines, furniture and glass doors, causing an estimated Tk 15 lakh in damage.

They also allegedly looted Tk 47,000 in cash, three Android mobile phones, a Canon printer and a shoulder bag belonging to DDN director Oriful Islam. 

Police said the bag contained about Tk 35 lakh earmarked for employee salaries.

A case was filed with Chawkbazar Police Station on July 13.