Photo: Collected
Allegations have been raised of an attack, extensive vandalism and looting of goods at content creator Salman Muqtadir’s studio at ECB Chattar in the capital. Salman has alleged that the attack took place because he refused to pay extortion money.
It was learnt that the attack on the studio, located at Newgreeny Properties in the capital, took place at around 10:30pm on Saturday (26 September). Various equipment and furniture of the studio were vandalised in the attack. Those involved with the studio also alleged that some goods, including mobile phones and wallets, were taken away. Various essential equipment kept in the studio has also gone missing. However, no official or employee of the studio was injured in the incident.
Salman Muqtadir was not in Dhaka at the time of the incident. On receiving the news, he came to Dhaka by air and visited the studio, and later showed the scenes of the vandalism on Facebook Live. The video shows broken furniture and various equipment as well as the condition of the damaged studio. Salman said shooting footage, equipment and important work materials of various clients were kept in the studio. As those have been damaged or gone missing, the extent of the loss could be large. However, he could not immediately state a specific financial figure.
On Facebook Live, Salman said a lot of important footage and other materials of clients were kept in the studio. According to him, if the work materials of 30-40 clients have been damaged or gone missing, the total amount of loss could easily become large.
Describing his studio as a long-cherished dream and a place for creative work, Salman said the place has been extensively damaged in the attack. However, he also said he would not stop because of this incident. Raising the allegation of an extortion demand, he said the attack on his studio was carried out right after he refused to pay extortion money. He claimed the incident was linked to extortion.
In the video, showing the damaged studio, Salman is heard saying that their studio has been completely destroyed. He claimed that there are not many studios of this kind for creative work and arts and culture.
Addressing the staff after the attack, he said everyone should remain at ease, that it was nothing that big and that they would continue working there. According to him, while working on this project he developed a brother-sister-like relationship with many young men and women; the studio had become their place of employment and creative work. Salman said he would not stop and would carry on with his passion – from outside the country if it is not possible from within the country.
Salman also highlighted the contribution of his wife, colleagues and others concerned in building the studio. He said his wife used to come there regularly to supervise during the construction work, and many of his colleagues stayed up at night to work on the studio’s security. Saying that he would not stop creative work out of fear over the attack, he said he would do something even bigger than this. He also urged the staff to return to work as normal.
On Facebook Live, Salman further said he made the video especially for Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed and told the minister not to worry at all, because, in his words, such incidents are normal in Bangladesh.
Later he said those who carried out the attack perhaps did not know the place was his. He got caught up in it merely as an ordinary citizen. According to him, the owner of the land there is probably linked to the Awami League and something happened with him over extortion. They got caught in the middle of that revenge – in the attempt to damage that landowner’s property, his property too suffered damage.
Salman Muqtadir has said he will file a case over the attack. However, complete information has not yet been officially available about the specific extent of the damage, the identity of the attackers and the reason behind the incident.
