Staff Correspondent

Expatriate entrepreneurs have fallen into severe distress after a gang led by Rahat Chowdhury Munna allegedly seized control of the Excelsior Sylhet Hotel & Resort (formerly Zakaria City), a major tourism property spanning 17 acres in Khadimpara, Sylhet.

Despite an arbitration meeting convened on Friday (August 7, 2026) by the local Union Parishad Chairman and the OC of Shahporan Police Station to resolve the dispute, the accused grabbers failed to appear.

In a written complaint titled "Regarding the Liberation of Excelsior Sylhet Hotel & Resort (Former Zakaria City) from Illegal Occupation" submitted to Commerce, Textiles, Jute, and Industry Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir, MP, the owners detailed how the resort—built through decade-long investments by expatriates—was illegally occupied by Munna and his accomplices using political clout.

According to the written application, the gang forcefully took control of the resort, issuing death threats to prevent owners and staff from entering the premises. False cases were also filed against the resort's security in-charge, Md. Shahidul Islam, along with several employees and directors. The owners expressed deep concern over reports that the occupiers are running illicit activities inside the resort premises, including drug trade and other crimes.

The dispute escalated on Friday, July 31, when several owners and staff attempted to enter the property to investigate the illegal activities. They were met with violent resistance from Munna’s armed group. Hearing their cries for help, local residents intervened, prompting the UP Chairman and the OC of Shahporan Police Station to arrive at the scene and de-escalate the situation. Law enforcement officials subsequently scheduled an arbitration meeting at Shahporan Police Station for Friday night (August 7) to restore possession to the legitimate owners.

Addressing Minister Muktadir—the local lawmaker for the Sylhet-1 constituency—the owners appealed for government intervention to free the property, warning that the failure to protect expatriate assets would severely deter foreign investment in the country.

Meanwhile, representatives of the affected expatriate investors are preparing to meet Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to highlight the broader issue of security for foreign and expatriate investments and real estate in Bangladesh.