Dhaka’s criminal underworld has suddenly turned volatile as several top terrorists, released after two decades in prison, have become embroiled in internal feuds. This rivalry has triggered a series of murders, creating an atmosphere of instability across the city.
While police claim that these terrorists are under surveillance despite not being in public view, the current sequence of events suggests a different reality. The latest victim of this unrest is the top terrorist Khandakar Naim Ahmed Titon, who was killed on Tuesday night.
His death has highlighted the involvement of other major underworld figures, though there is ambiguity over whether his brother-in-law, Sanjidul Islam Emon, or another top terrorist, Imamul Hasan Helal (alias Pichchi Helal), was behind the killing due to disputes over dominance.
While Emon and Helal have a long-standing rivalry, Titon’s relationship with Emon was strained, yet he reportedly maintained secret contact with Helal.
The detective police are investigating the involvement of Killer Badal, whose name appeared alongside Helal’s in the case, suggesting a complex underworld mystery as Badal and Helal were previously known rivals.
Surveillance failures, intelligence lapses
Questions have been raised regarding how these murders continue to occur and how killers manage to escape despite claims of police surveillance. Experts suggest that a lack of monitoring and intelligence activity has allowed criminals to become reckless.
DMP Additional Commissioner (Crime and Operations) SN Md Nazrul Islam said the police are active in bringing all criminals, including top terrorists on bail, to justice and have increased intelligence activities.
However, former inspector general of police (IGP) Muhammad Nurul Huda noted that law enforcement has shown laxity, allowing criminals to exploit the lack of monitoring. He warned that if police and intelligence efforts are not ramped up, there could be significant risks to public safety.
Dr Touhidul Haque, an associate professor at Dhaka University, added that these terrorists previously controlled the underworld from prison and are now active in reclaiming dominance and seeking revenge.
He suggested that law enforcement is currently failing to reach the activities of these kingpins and must better utilise technology and informants.
Titon murder case and cattle market conflict
A case was filed at New Market Police Station on Wednesday by Titon’s brother, Sayeed Akter Ripon, a day after the murder. Assistant Commissioner (New Market Zone) Md Nasim stated that the case was lodged against unidentified individuals, and efforts to identify the culprits are underway.
In the First Information Report (FIR), Sayeed Akter mentioned that Titon had phoned him on 26 April, stating he was having trouble with Pichchi Helal, Badal (alias Killer Badal or Kaila Badal), Shahjahan, and Rony (alias Daggary Rony) regarding the lease of the Bosila cattle market.
Titon told his brother the following day that he had been called to negotiate a settlement with them. The dispute over temporary cattle markets for Eid-ul-Adha appears to be a significant motive, as these markets are managed through leases.
The Dhaka North City Corporation had invited tenders for 12 markets, including Bosila, with a base price of Tk 1.96 crore, but no bids were submitted, necessitating a re-tender.
Officials from the two city corporations noted that top terrorists exercise authority over various markets, such as Kachukhet, which is controlled by Killer Abbas’s wife’s firm, Hamida Enterprise.
They also maintain control over markets in Shahjahanpur, Meradia, Diabari, Kamalapur, Postogola, and Tejgaon Polytechnic.
The killing of Titon has brought another alleged top criminal, Tofayel Ahmed Joseph, into focus.
According to sources, Joseph’s brother Tipu was killed in the Mohammadpur area 27 years ago. Titon and several others were accused in that case. There is speculation within the underworld that Joseph may have hired killers to take revenge for his brother’s death.
Separately, another alleged criminal known as Picchi Helal, who is in hiding, told this correspondent on Wednesday night that Titon had a dispute with his sister and her husband, Imon.
He claimed the killing was planned and later manipulated to influence who would be named as suspects in the case.
“They have fabricated a story about a dispute over a cattle market lease during Eid al-Adha,” he said, denying any involvement in the killing.
Titon’s criminal background
Titon was born in 1966 in Jashore and entered Dhaka’s crime world in the 1990s following a double murder in his hometown. He formed a gang with his brother-in-law Emon and became one of the most wanted criminals on police records.
Arrested in 2004 in the Cantonment area, he was sentenced to death in 2014 for the murder of Babar Elahi but was released on bail from Kashimpur High Security Jail on 12 August 2024.
Following the fall of the Awami League government on 5 August 2024, six notorious figures from the 2001 “top 23” list were released on bail.
These include Abbas Ali (alias Killer Abbas), Sheikh Mohammad Aslam (alias Sweden Aslam), Imamul Hasan Helal (alias Pichchi Helal), Sanjidul Islam (alias Emon), Khandakar Naim Ahmed (alias Titon), and Khorshed Alam (alias Rasu or Freedom Rasu).
All six face numerous charges, including murder and attempted murder, yet they have managed to secure bail as witnesses often fear to testify against them. In some cases, the state did not appeal against their acquittals.
Police and intelligence officials noted that while these criminals were previously monitored closely, the post-government collapse stalemate allowed them to walk free.
Underworld panic amid recurring violence
The release of these top terrorists has caused crime rates to rise, with disputes over occupation, extortion, and dominance causing instability in the underworld.
On 10 November 2023, listed top terrorist Tarik Saif Mamun was shot dead in front of National Medical College, with investigations linking the hit to Emon.
Shortly after, on 18 November, Jubo Dal official Golam Kibria was murdered in Mirpur, reportedly on the orders of top terrorist Mofizur Rahman (alias Mamun), who is hiding abroad.
Further violence occurred on 7 January 2024, when Azizur Rahman (alias Musabbir) was killed behind Bashundhara Shopping Mall over the control of Karwan Bazar.
Investigators claim that Musabbir’s murder was planned months in advance, with Tk15 lakh sent from abroad on the orders of an exiled top terrorist.
The ongoing rivalries between Emon and Pichchi Helal, alongside the activities of Sweden Aslam, Killer Abbas, Jishan, and Shahadat, continue to spread panic throughout the city as murders continue to occur.
