The recent arrests of top criminals Subrata Bain and Mollah Masud have brought Bangladesh’s underworld back into focus. Having survived hundreds of “crossfire” incidents over three decades, these figures have also raised critical questions — where does their power come from, and who are their political godfathers?
In 2001, the BNP-Jamaat coalition government published a list of 23 top criminals, announcing rewards for their capture. While several were killed in police and RAB custody under “crossfire” or “encounter” operations, seven — Subrata Bain, Molla Masud, Tanvirul Islam Joy, Bikash Biswas, Prokash Biswas, Joseph, and Leather Liton — survived. Investigations reveal each enjoyed patronage from influential political figures.
During Sheikh Hasina’s previous tenure, Bikash, Prokash, and Joseph were allowed to leave the country unhindered. Subrata, Masud, Joy, and Liton continued their criminal empires — engaging in murder, extortion, and drug trafficking — under political protection or direct support from law enforcement.
Former IGP Abdul Kaiyum disclosed that in 2001, the Home Ministry sought Interpol’s help to arrest these 23 criminals, and the list remains active. “Remand interrogations should expose their godfathers. It’s time to reveal the brutal truths of the underworld,” he said.
Current IGP Baharul Alam told Times of Bangladesh, “Subrata Bain’s activities over the past decade, including shooting a Chhatra Dal leader in Hatirjhil, are under scrutiny.” He warned that action would be taken against any police or political figures aiding them.
Investigative journalist Zulkarnain Saer exposed Subrata, Masud, Joy, and Liton’s covert ties with India’s RAW, implicating law enforcement and government officials.
Ex-IGP Nurul Huda remarked, “If reports of listed criminals fleeing disguised are true, it proves intelligence failures.”
Underworld sources claim Subrata was used in a state-backed “targeted operation” between 2014-18. Earlier, during BNP-Jamaat rule, a then-state minister allegedly helped him flee safely.
Mollah Masud, once close to an old Dhaka BNP leader, controlled tender manipulation before aligning with Awami League leaders, rising to power by influencing the 2018 elections.
Bikash Biswas, from Bagerhat, became a crime lord under an AL committee member’s shelter and fled abroad in 2018 with a minister’s aid, allegedly still controlling Dhaka’s underworld from France. His brother Prokash, a Mirpur gangster, escaped to Europe, later studying law and living a normal life.
Joseph, sentenced to death in a 1996 murder case, was freed in 2018 via presidential pardon (his brother was then army chief) and fled abroad.
Tanvirul Islam Joy, linked to Bangabandhu Memorial Trust and a Sheikh family member, trained in India’s Madhya Pradesh and operated internationally.
Leather Liton, once controlling Hazaribagh’s leather sector tenders, connected with northeast Indian separatists via Joy. Intelligence reports allege his involvement in espionage, arms, and drug smuggling for RAW.