Rangamati, June 28 (V7N) - Construction of a three-storey administrative and a three-storey academic building at Rangamati Science & Technology University (RMSTU) has been halted after heavily armed extortionists entered the campus demanding “protection money.” Both constructions, worth Tk 161 million and Tk 183.7 million respectively, began in February and are being handled by Chittagong contractor M E–RZB under the support of the Directorate of Engineering Education.
 
 
According to university sources, seven masked men, four of whom were armed, entered the campus around 9:45 pm on Thursday (June 26). They approached the contractor’s workers and demanded a substantial fee to allow construction to continue. The group then stormed a tin-shack used by labourers, seizing 10–12 mobile phones before threatening to stop all work and cause damage if extortion was not paid.
 
A nearly six-minute CCTV recording, later shared on Facebook, shows the armed group walking through the campus gate. A security guard, seen seated on a chair, stands up only to have his phone grabbed by the intruders. They then raided workers’ sleeping quarters before fleeing along the same route.
 

Although the labourers escaped unharmed, the incident has sparked significant concern across the Rangamati Science and Technology University (RMSTU) community. Students, faculty, administrative personnel, and construction teams have all reported heightened anxiety over campus safety. RMSTU Proctor and Assistant Professor Saddam Hossain lodged a General Diary (GD) with the Rangamati Kotwali Police Station following the incident. Officer-in-Charge (OC) Sahed Uddin confirmed that a formal investigation is underway and that efforts are being made to identify and apprehend the perpetrators.

 
The buildings’ construction was halted even after previous threats, but resumed with law enforcement support. University Vice-Chancellor Dr. Atiar Rahman called the incident “regrettable” and emphasized that the CCTV footage enabled better identification of the perpetrators this time. He affirmed that security agencies and administrative authorities have vowed to take the matter seriously.
 
Locals, administration, and law enforcement have urged for immediate and robust action, warning that ongoing threats risk undermining the university’s educational, research, and infrastructure development. Without intervention, they say, the situation could escalate further.
 
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