Armed group demands extortion at Rangamati university construction site
An armed group reportedly entered the campus of Rangamati Science and Technology University on Thursday night, demanding extortion money from ongoing development work at the institution.
According to university officials, seven armed individuals entered the main campus around 10:45 pm and approached workers engaged in construction activities. The assailants allegedly seized mobile phones from 15 labourers and verbally abused them.
The attackers reportedly threatened to halt construction work unless their extortion demands were met. They also warned that failure to comply would result in violence against the workers. The incident caused panic among the labourers and triggered fear across the university premises.
University sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the incident and said law enforcement agencies had been informed.
The area surrounding the Asambasti–Kaptai connecting road in Rangamati is known to be under the influence of several armed groups active in the hill region, including the Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (PCJSS) led by Santu Larma, the United People’s Democratic Front (UPDF) led by Prasit Bikash Khisha, and the PCJSS (Reformist) faction affiliated with MN Larma.
According to a university source, this is not the first such incident. In February, the Santu-led PCJSS reportedly halted work at the site over similar demands. On 11 May, the Reformist PCJSS group also stopped construction work, citing non-payment.
Work later resumed after contractors reportedly paid extortion to the armed groups. However, towards the end of May, the UPDF allegedly issued a fresh demand for a large sum of money. Following that, law enforcement temporarily increased patrols in the area, during which the armed presence subsided.
On Thursday night, the group reportedly returned to the site, demanding payment again and instructing workers to stop construction. Workers reported that the attackers took 15 mobile phones during the incident.
The construction is part of the Rangamati Science and Technology University Establishment Project (2nd Revised) under the University Grants Commission. The academic and administrative buildings—both three-storey structures with deep foundations—are being constructed jointly by contractor ME-RB with technical support from the Education Engineering Department. The total project cost is estimated at BDT 250 million.
