Mohammad Abu Hanif: The Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh (REHAB) on Sunday strongly condemned the alleged brutal assault, torture and forced extraction of signatures from one of its members in Barishal, demanding swift, impartial investigation and exemplary punishment for those responsible.At an emergency press conference held at REHAB's headquarters in Dhaka, REHAB President Dr Ali Afzal expressed deep concern over the alleged attack on Md Abdul Aziz Hawlader, Chairman of Bakla Developers Pvt Ltd and Managing Director of Agrani Housing Ltd.According to REHAB, Hawlader was allegedly subjected to severe physical torture, assaulted on sensitive parts of his body, intimidated, and forced to sign stamp papers and cheques.Reading out a written statement, Dr Afzal described the incident as not merely an attack on an individual entrepreneur but also a serious blow to the country's investment climate and business security.He said REHAB had closely monitored media reports, videos circulating on social media and the actions taken by law enforcement agencies. The footage, he said, was deeply disturbing and unacceptable in a civilised society.The REHAB president acknowledged the arrest of several suspects following the filing of a case, describing the law enforcement response as commendable. However, he expressed concern over reports that efforts were being made to secure the accused's release on bail while the victim continued to face intimidation and pressure."If these allegations are true, they amount to an attempt to influence the judicial process," he said, urging the authorities to ensure the safety of the victim and his family throughout the legal proceedings.Highlighting the economic importance of the housing sector, Dr Afzal said REHAB represents the country's largest real estate body, whose members have invested thousands of crores of taka, generated direct and indirect employment for nearly five million people, and contributed significantly to planned urbanisation and national economic growth.He stressed that intimidation, extortion, violence and coercion could never be acceptable means of settling disputes, adding that any business or financial disagreement should be resolved through the country's legal and judicial mechanisms. Likewise, any developer found violating the law should face legal action under due process, he said. Commenting on political affiliations, Dr Afzal said REHAB does not judge individuals based on political identity but believes that the rule of law must apply equally to everyone. Warning that insecurity among entrepreneurs could undermine investor confidence, he said ensuring the safety of businesspeople was essential for sustaining a healthy investment environment. The organisation placed four demands before the government, law enforcement agencies and the judiciary: a prompt, impartial and transparent investigation into the incident; exemplary legal action against all those found guilty; comprehensive security for the victim and his family; and effective measures to ensure the safety of entrepreneurs in the real estate sector in the future.  Following the press briefing, REHAB Senior Vice-President Abdur Razzaq reiterated the association's commitment to upholding the rule of law, justice and a secure business environment. He expressed hope that the authorities would bring the actual perpetrators to justice through a fair investigation, sending a strong message that such incidents would not be tolerated and reinforcing confidence in Bangladesh's investment climate.