“This Is Your Level”: Salman Mocks Alleged BNP Extortionists as Studio Lies in Ruins
Salman Muqtadir says BNP-linked extortionists destroyed his studio. The Home Minister says Muqtadir never even filed a case and admitted no one asked him for money.
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In a Nutshell:
- Salman Muqtadir’s Brownfish Studio in Dhaka’s ECB Chattar (Manikdi Namapara) was attacked, vandalised, and looted around 10:30 pm on Saturday, September 26.
- Muqtadir, filming inside the wreckage, blamed BNP-affiliated men directly, telling them: “This is your level” and closed with sarcasm aimed at the Home Minister: “BNP has done a hell of a job”.
- Jamaat Amir Dr Shafiqur Rahman, NCP’s Asif Mahmud, and NCP’s Nasiruddin Patwary all publicly backed the extortion narrative and questioned the government’s grip on law and order.
- Today, September 27, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed responded directly at a press briefing, revealing Muqtadir has filed no case and reportedly admitted no one actually demanded money from him.
- The minister said the real cause was a 35-katha disputed land conflict in Manikdi between a property developer (New Guinea Properties) and a retired senior military officer, with men allegedly backing the officer entering at night to seize the land, damaging Muqtadir’s tin-shed studio in the process.
- Police responded to a 999 call, arrested three people at the scene, and recovered bullet casings and homemade weapons as evidence.
- The minister called Muqtadir’s “BNP is an extortionist party” remark a “blanket accusation,” but said a case is expected to be filed soon and promised action against anyone involved, regardless of political identity.
- As of now, no formal case has been registered by Muqtadir or the police, leaving the extortion allegation legally unverified.
Context
Salman Muqtadir is one of Bangladesh’s most popular content creators, known for building Brownfish Studio into what he calls the country’s most advanced creative space. He publicly supported the July 2024 student movement, which toppled the previous government. This attack comes amid a wider pattern of extortion complaints tied to political groups since the political transition, with opposition leaders regularly accusing each other’s camps of running such rackets.
Why It Matters
This is more than just a smashed studio; it is a major political problem. Because the BNP is in power, accusing their supporters of extortion means accusing the people who are supposed to keep the country safe. Now, everyone is watching to see if the new government will actually punish its own followers. Opposition leaders are pointing out a bigger fear: that the people tied to the new government feel they can get away with anything. This is a huge blow to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, who just took office promising to stop the chaos and restore order. If the public thinks the ruling party's supporters are running unchecked extortion rings, his promises mean nothing. To make matters worse, the police quickly called the attack a "property dispute." To many people, this just looks like a cover-up to protect the ruling party, making it hard to trust law enforcement. How the government handles this mess will prove whether they actually care about justice or if they are just protecting their own.
What We Think
This is a real test of whether they can control their own ranks or control the security in general. We shouldn't just accept the "property dispute" excuse without solid proof. Honestly, when opposition parties ask if we even have a working government, it's hard not to feel the same frustration. How this ends will show if the government's promises to keep people safe were ever real to begin with.