‘Next time, nobody will raise their voice against any government’: Salman Muqtadir

Content creator Salman Muqtadir has launched a blistering attack on the government’s handling of the aftermath of the vandalism at his BrownFish Studio, accusing state agencies, political activists and sections of the media of turning their attention on him instead of the attack.

“Next time, nobody will raise their voice against any government,” Salman said in a video statement, arguing that the response to his questions would discourage others from speaking out.

His remarks came on Wednesday as the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit sought details of bank accounts held in his name. Banks were asked for account-opening forms, KYC documents and transaction statements. Reports said the request was marked urgent. No reason for seeking the information was immediately known.

Salman directly questioned the timing.

“You want to summon my bank records? On what basis? Go ahead! You have the right,” he said.

“But look at the timing. Why did you suddenly feel the need to summon my bank records precisely when I, as a victim, started asking questions?”

A BFIU official separately told The Daily Star that such requests were routine for the anti-money laundering agency and did not, by themselves, indicate wrongdoing.

‘An entire state’

Salman said the response since the attack had gone far beyond scrutiny of his initial allegations.

“An entire state — organisations, agencies, news channels, TV channels, news portals, media cells, their journalists, every kind of page, their own leaders, their activists, their people — all of you have been ganging up on me for the last few days,” he said.

He argued that if the same resources were devoted to fighting crime, “Bangladesh could perhaps have become a crime-free country for at least that one day.”

“The amount of resources and effort you guys are putting into this — for what? Because I raised my voice without asking for anything?”

‘Why wasn’t the case filed?’

Salman also challenged repeated questions over why he had not filed a case himself immediately after the attack.

“I did not even want to file a case before. Why did I eventually go to do it? Just for formality,” he said.

He said he went to the police station, sat there for an extended period, spoke to officials and provided information.

“Why wasn't the case filed? You have to answer that question. I could not answer it,” he said.

“What do you want me to do? Gather people, go to the police station and investigate myself why my case wasn't filed there?”

A case over the attack was subsequently filed by Saiful Islam Bhuiyan, a director of New Guinea Properties, alleging trespass, vandalism, looting and theft. Police and the Detective Branch have made arrests in connection with the incident.

‘I thought you were supposed to deliver justice’

Salman also took aim at the government's response to his criticism.

He referred to comments that “the people will judge”, saying: “Oh! I didn't realise that. I thought you were supposed to deliver justice!”

“You are the government. These are your agencies, your system. This isn't my job. It isn't the news media's job either.”

He rejected suggestions that he and supporters of the current political establishment had fought “together” during the July uprising.

“No. Never! We never fought in the same ranks. We were never even fighting the same fight,” Salman said.

“Your people did it for their party. I don't have a party or a group behind me. I did it for the people, for myself, for the country.”

“We have never, ever fought together. Never!”

From attack to land dispute

BrownFish Studio, located inside the New Guinea Properties premises at ECB Chattar, was vandalised on Saturday night.

Salman initially alleged that BNP-linked people were behind the attack and connected it to an extortion dispute involving the property. Daily Waadaa could not independently establish the attackers’ political affiliations.

Police later said the violence stemmed from a land dispute between New Guinea Properties and retired Major General Golam Mohiuddin and that Salman’s studio was not the original target. Salman rents space at the property.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed also described Salman's allegation against the BNP as “sweeping”, while saying the incident was linked to a dispute over ownership of the land.

Salman has since acknowledged that nobody directly demanded extortion money from him.

But in his latest statement, he said the dispute over his earlier comments had eclipsed what happened inside the studio.

‘I was not even given a chance to grieve’

Salman described BrownFish as a place where his family and employees routinely spent time.

“My children are there. My wife is there. My family is there. The children draw there. Sometimes they make noodles when we're working late at the office,” he said.

He said armed, masked men arrived in trucks and stormed the premises.

Daily Waadaa earlier reported extensive damage inside the studio, including damaged equipment, furniture and CCTV cameras. Police have confirmed the broader attack on the property while disputing Salman's original explanation of its motive.

“I was not even given a chance to grieve,” Salman said.

“I am apparently not allowed to be shocked. My reaction is apparently unacceptable.”

He said the discussion had focused on his words and reactions rather than the violence itself.

“Somehow, you are never getting to the crime itself. You are not addressing the situation. You are not addressing security. You cannot give an answer.”

Salman said he was prepared to disclose contracts, transaction records, agreements, partnership documents and rental papers if they were questioned.

“What else?” he repeatedly asked.

He ended by contrasting the government's criticism of its predecessor with what he described as intolerance of scrutiny now.

“You have spent all this time calling the previous government ‘fascist, fascist, fascist’. What kind of behaviour is this?”

“The government cannot be questioned. You cannot be shocked. You cannot complain. You cannot speak,” he said.

“And then you say ordinary people will rise. You say they will have freedom. You talk about freedom of speech.”

“Absolutely amazing.”

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