Notorious criminals of Dhaka's underworld seek safe haven across the border. What are they doing there?
How are Dhaka's 'top terrors' in Kolkata faring? The daily routine of one of these characters is pretty much like this: An hour's morning walk from 5 am to 6 am. Breakfast and another sleep session till noon. Then it's straight to the city in his chauffeur-driven Mahendra jeep. The marathon adda begins, gossiping and chatting with buddies of the same ilk at hotels and bus counters along Sadar Street, Park Street, Marquis Street ... in between, calls to and from Dhaka are made through the cell or from a public phone booth. Daily phone bills are astronomical -- around 10 thousand taka on average.
Next comes a shopping spree -- expensive shirts, trousers, gifts from the classier malls. Lunch at a choice restaurant and back to the flat in the evening. He pays about 5000 to 6000 rupees as monthly rent for the flat. It's well furnished, complete with TV, fridge and other amenities. Before he'd prepare his own meal at night, but now his wife cooks a delicious meal for him. Then the entire night is spent watching TV and movies -- that's the routine of a certain 'top terror' from Dhaka.
He is known by his acquaintances in Kolkata as 'Shubhra Dada'. He commands their respect and wields considerable clout there. This is none other that Dhaka's notorious criminal Trimati Subrata Bain. He features high on Bangladesh police's list of 23 'most wanted' criminals. While he makes frequent trips to Dhaka, he is more or less a permanent resident of Kolkata now. In fear of being killed in 'crossfire', Subrata Bain, alias Fateh Ali, has now settled in Kolkata with wife and children.
Safe haven for Bangladesh's criminals
Bangladesh's top criminals have found a safe haven in Nadia, Bongaon, Dumdum, Teghatia. Thakurpukur and Kolkata of the Indian state of West Bengal. When law enforcers turn tough or the criminals commit any serious crime here, they simply cross the border, legally or illegally. They take refuge in familiar haunts there, sheltered by official and unofficial 'protectors'.
Kolkata is a great favourite among these felons. This is nothing new. Ever since independence this has been a 'safe house' for those wanted this side of the border. After Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was killed in 1975, Kader Siddiqui fled the country with his group, setting up home and hearth in Bardwan. Since then the list of persons crossing over for refuge has been long -- Auranga, Golam Faruk Ovi, Major Muzaffar (accused in the Zia killing case), just to name a few. Prominent among the present 'absconders' are Jainul Hazari and Shamim Osman. Recently Mrinal, a left-wing 'terror' from Satkhira was killed in Nadia.
Investigations reveal that many of the terrorists have changed their names to avoid the law enforcers there and stay at various hotels and rented houses. However, a number of the top terrors are living in the lap of luxury there, under patronage of Indian police and intelligence wing. In exchange, they carry out various 'assignments' back in Bangladesh. It is reported that several bomb blasts and killings are all part and parcel of these assignments.
Further investigations reveal that many of these criminals are issued ID cards by the agency or the police so that they can roam around freely and safely. Then again, if problems crop up, sometimes the police snatch away the ID cards, tear them up and arrest the criminals. But the criminals are no fools. They keep several copies of the ID cards so if one is destroyed they simply pull out another. Two of the top criminals, though, are enjoying full safety under shelter of the intelligence there -- these are 'Shubra' and Joy. They are living in style.
Who are in Kolkata?
Other than the 'most wanted' criminals, there are several disreputable members of Bangladesh's underworld in and around Kolkata. The list is long -- Subrata Bain, Tanveerul Islam Joy, 'Nengra' Tajgir, Mollah Masud, Imon, Tutul, Bikash, Harris (leader of the infamous 'Harris Bahini'), former commission Fazlur Rahman Babul, Monir (brother of Pintu MP), Aga Mithu of Narayanganj and others. They all have several passports. Kolkata's money changers help them is getting these passports.
Kala Jahangir, dead of alive?
Kala Jahangir -- the name stands is synonymous with killing and extortion in Dhaka. Hailing from Bogra, Jahangir's family lives in Mirpur where his mother is a school teacher. His brother is an army officer. Kala Jahangir is the black sheep of the family. Though he has been out of the country for long, his associates still carry out extortion relentlessly, collecting lacs of taka in his name everyday.
Kala Jahangir presently is residing in Kolkata, according to reports. However, there are two rumours about him. Some of his close associates say he has gone off to Australia. The other rumour is that either on March 22 or April 22, 2004, he was apprehended by police in Bombay, brought to Kolkata where he was shot dead by the police and then taken by helicopter and dumped into the Ganges. However, sources say that these rumours are the brainchild of none other than the wily Kala Jahangir himself. Then again, many of the Bangladesh criminals in Kolkata say that they haven't seen him for quite some time and have no contact with him at all.
Mollah Masud
Mollah Masud is a close associate of Kala Jahangir. He was a member of the Seven Star group. He studied at a madrassah for some time and so earned his 'Mollah' nickname. When the movement against Golam Azam had reached a peak in Bangladesh, Mollah Masud had reportedly been given an assignment to assassinate the Jamaat leader. But Mollah disappeared into thin air. Ironically, after a brief period he himself was seen following Golam Azam around as his bodyguard! Then he went underground once again, becoming one of the top terrorists of the country.
Dhaka's 'top terrors'
Dhaka's 'top terrors' involved in abduction, ransom and extortion include Sweden Aslam, Subrata Bain, Kala Jahangir, Mollah Masud, Imon, Titon, Prakash, Bikash, Arman, Pichchi Helal, Joseph, Kamal Pasha, Leather Liton, Junior Hannan, Senior Hannan, Liaqat Hossain, Tanvirul Islam Joy, Mukul, Manik, Mamun, Lengra Tajgir, Killer Abbas, Tokai Sagar, '[moderated]' Selim, Rasu, Imam, Dipu Chowdhury, Harris, Aga Shamim, Kala Khokan, Tutul, Munna, Ashiq Abdullah and others.
Though he is in India at the moment, Mollah Masud hasn't set up permanent residence anywhere. One day he is in Kolkata another in Nadia. Last year he married a girl from a poor family in Nadia. Many of Dhaka's top terrors attended the extravagant wedding. Masud and Subrata are close to each other, but they never live in the same house together. Subrata finds it safer to stay separate. Wherever he goes, Masud rents a flat and stays there. Masud loves his adda, drinks like a fish and stays up late watching TV. He used to cook for himself, but now his wife does the job.
Joy's tale
Tanvirul Islam Joy is the most stylish of the terrors, enjoying the high life to the full. Protected by agency benefactors there, he lives a life of sheer glitz and glamour. He has a flat at Goriahat and has two chauffeur-driven vehicles -- a sky blue Mahendra jeep and a Suzuki Zen. He uses one and the other is for his wife and two daughters. His elder daughter is 15 and younger seven. Both study at Kolkata. Joy's earnings come from his dealings with the diamond smuggling network in Kolkata. He is also in close contact with Dhaka's gold smugglers. His favourite hangouts are at Kolkata New Market and Trinker's Bar near Park Hotel. He hardly ever comes to Dhaka.
Joy has a good family background and would live in Dhaka's Kalabagan area. After completing studies in India, he had gone off to the US. He made a lot of money through his business dealings there. When Sheikh Hasina would visit America, he would give her his limousine to use. During Awami League's rule, he returned to Bangladesh and came closer to Awami League. At the same time he began dabbling in the crime world. Joy then married his maternal uncle's wife. His aunt/wife was close to Sheikh Hasina and through her Joy got to know the Awami League chief. Joy had the same birthday as Hasina's own son Joy and so Hasina would often introduce him as her son. Joy didn't lose the opportunity to cash in on this and at various places would introduce himself as Hasina's son. Joy is more known in Dhaka as an extortionist rather than a killer. He is 5 ft 7 in tall, fair in complexion and remains rather aloof from the other Bangladesh criminals there. Close to where Joy lives in Goriahat, lives Shamim Osman's cadre Aga Mithu, a 'terror' of Narayanganj.
Sources reveal that the three disreputable sons of former Chief Whip Abul Hasnat Abdullah live with a distant aunt in Kolkata now. They spend most of their time playing snooker at their hangout near Jamuna cinema hall in Marquis Street. Ashiq Abdullah occasionally comes to Dhaka.
About Subrata Bain
Subrata Bain comes from a very poor family of Barisal. He would live with his parents in Maghbazar, Dhaka. His mother was a school teacher. JSD Chhatra League's Murad was killed by the Subrata Bahini in a feud over a stall at the Bishal Centre in Maghbazar. This was Subrata's first murder, the last being the killing of Murgi Milon. Subrata has been staying in West Bengal since the period of the last caretaker government. He was first at Teghria, then Dumdum and then at Thakurpukur. He is now at Kolkata. He comes often to Dhaka, his last visit being in June. Investigations reveal that during Awami League's rule while Subrata was in jail, his wife joined hands with Tikkapara's terrorist Ashiq and planned to kill Subrata. Subrata divorced his wife upon his release from jail. He has a son and a daughter from this wife. His daughter is 14 and son, who is mute, is 12 years old. Subrata has an eighteen-month-old baby girl with his second wife. His daughter from his first marriage lives with Subrata's mother in Maghbazar. The son lives in Kolkata with him.
'Most wanted' 23 top terrors'
The list of criminals drawn up during Awami League's time were alleged to be mostly pro-BNP elements. This list was followed during the caretaker rule of Justice Latifur Rahman and even during the present rule, that list was used to shortlist 23 of the 'most wanted' top terrorists. So there are not many pro-Awami League criminals in this list. These most wanted terrors include Subrata Bain, Mollah Masud, Lengra Tajgir, Joy, Ashiq Abdullah, Kala Jahangir, Aga Shamim, Imam, Rasu, Tokai Sagar, Killer Abbas, Alauddin (killed), Liaqat Hossain, Pichchi Hannan (killed), Junior Hannan, Kamal Pasha, Prakash, Bikash, Pichchi Helal, Harris, Joseph and others.
While in jail, Subrata would converse at length with an African Muslim inmate. He converted to Islam and took the name of Fateh Ali. Since then Subrata prayers regularly and fasts every Friday. He always carries a tasbih (prayer beads) with him. Over 40 years of age now, Subrata never stays at one place for very long. he has at least eight to ten different shelters in Kolkata. He spends one night in a clinic, another night at a rail station and so on. He even dons a disguise at times. When in Dhaka, he goes around on a rickshaw van, adept at evading the police.
He regularly is in contact with Dhaka over the phone and makes about 50 to 60 lac taka a month over here. This is mostly through commissions and extortion. He has about a hundred paid workers in Dhaka. They are paid from 10 thousand to 30 thousand taka a month each.
Concerning the source of income for the King of the Underworld, Subrata Bain, it is said that when Kolkata's smugglers and hundi dealers need muscle to extract payment from their debtors in Dhaka, they turn to Subrata. He picks up the phone and issues instructions to his Dhaka minions. His minions carry out the work, send the money through underhand channels to Dhaka and Subrata skims off a handsome commission. In the same manner, Dhaka's businessmen collect their dues from Kolkata through Subrata.
Where are the top terrors?'
The top terrors of the city who are presently in jail are Haris, Sweden Aslam, Titon, Bikash, Pichchi Helal, Joseph, Kamal Pasha, Leather Liton, Liaqat Hossain, Mamun, Killer Abbas, Khorshed Alam and Rasu. The fugitives within the country are Dipu Chowdhury, Imon, Junior Hannan, Manik and Imam. Tokai Sagar and '[moderated]' Selim are in the US, In India are Subrata Bain, Tanvirul Joy, Lengra Tajgir, Mollah Masud, Kala Jahangir, Aga Shamim, Tutul, Mukul, Prakash, Ashiq Abdullah and his two brothers. Terrors Alauddin and Kala Faruk were killed by the police while Pichchi Hannan was killed in RAB crossfire. Top terror Senior Hannan presently runs a business at Eastern Plaza. Subrata has bought a 50-bigha plot of land in Nadia where he has made a pond and has a fish farm. Mollah Masud is in charge of this presently.
According to the apprehended Armaan, an Indian intelligence agency had first given Subrata the assignment to carry out the August 21 grenade attack. Then Joy carried out the August operation through his associate Mukul. It is alleged that Subrata has strong sources among Dhaka's law enforcers, enabling to dodge the authorities easily and visit Dhaka quite safely.
About the Seven Star group
During the Awami League rule, the Seven Star group came into being, concentrating on the gold smuggling business at the airport. The airport is mostly used to smuggle in gold and various criminal rings are used to transport the gold to various spots. At one time Tokai Sagar, Murgi Milon and '[moderated]' Selim would run this business. Later this was taken over by Liaqat Hossain, Senior Hannan and Auranga. The Seven Star group emerged as their rivals. Members of this group were Subrata, Joy, Tokai Sagar, Mollah Masud, Tikka, '[moderated]' Selim and Chanchal (who was later killed by the Pichchi Hannan group). During Awami League's rule, the Seven Star group was the most organised and daring terror group around. Murgi Milan was killed over internal feuds and power struggle.
Seven Star's internal feuding began towards the end of the Awami League rule. Subrata would go on any operation himself. He would carry out most of the operations over telephone. Tikka, Mollah Masud and Chanchal would be out at the front. But Subrata would get the lion's share of the commission as well as credit for the operation's success. This irked Joy who took up separate operations with Tikka, making money and procuring arms through extortion, mugging and other criminal activities. Thus a separate Seven Star faction was formed. During the last caretaker government, quarters within the group began eyeing Subrata as close to BNP and so the internal conflict grew. The seven terrors of the group began operating individually, drawing an end to the Seven Stars. However, no killings took place among the group members themselves.
At the same time the Five Star group was formed by Old Dhaka's terrorist Aga Shamim over the control of Dhaka City Corporation contracts. It is now more or less inert. Aga Shamim is one of the listed 23 most wanted terrorists of the country.
Paritosh Paul writes from Kolkata:
An eight-member police team headed by Additional Inspector General of Bangladesh Police, Shahidullah Khan, arrived in Kolkata on an undisclosed mission on June 21, 2005. Officially they have come to gain experience in improving the effectiveness of the Bangladesh police force and to get training tips from the West Bengal police. They stayed at Kolkata for three days only. The composition of the team was very interesting -- Khuda Buksh Chowdhry, DG, Passport and Immigration; Khan Syed Hasan, Commissioner of Khulna Metropolitan Police; Yasmeen Kafar, Special Inspector of Police, Special Branch and four others. They met Prasun Mukherjee, Commissioner of Kolkata Police and others. During discussions, the Bangladesh police officials mentioned that Kolkata and its adjoining areas had become the home of many dreaded Bangladeshi criminals. Bangladesh police also informed their counterparts that whenever there is any special drive to nab the criminals, they come to Kolkata and take shelter in the area near the border or district towns.
'Most wanted' 23 top terrors'
While most of the crime 'connoisseurs' have fixed territories with an unspoken 'honor among thieves' code - not infringing upon each others' strong holds, some criminals don't bother about such finer points and do as they please, where they please. In general, the top terrors have their respective territories as thus:
Subrata Bain Nayatola, Maghbazar
JoyKalabagan, Green Road, Panthapath, Sobhanbagh and certain
Sweden AslamFarmgate, New DOHS, Rajabazar, Testuribazar, Kawran Bazar
BikashMirpur
JosephMohammedpur
Pichchi HelalMohammedpur
Pichchi Hannan (killed)Kathalbagan, Kawran Bazar, Hatirpool, Elephant Road
Leather Liton and Titon Hazaribagh, Rayerbazar, Jhigatola
Khurshed Alam RasuSiddeshwari
ImonDhanmondi, Rayerbazar, Mohammedpur
Killer AbbasMirpur
Kala JahangirMirpur, Cantonment
Commissioner Shahadat (killed) Jurain, Postgola, Gandaria (Kala Jahangir killed Commissioner Shahadat for Shahid Commissioner. With Shahid Commissioner in jail, Kala Jahangir took charge of Jurain, Postgola and Gandaria)
Aga ShamimOld Dhaka
Liaqat, HannanEskaton, Mouchak, Maghbazar, Bangla Motor
A few days ago an English daily of Kolkata reported, quoting a source, that a top criminal, Prakash, has been staying in Kolkata since 1997. The newspaper also reported that Shahidur Rahman, another most wanted criminal of Dhaka, led an easy life for almost 20 years before the Kolkata police recently arrested him. He opened a travel agency, married twice and now even owns a house in Kolkata. Quoting the source, the newspaper wrote that Shubhro, heading the Seven Star group, a terrorist organisation in Bangladesh, has holed up in Kolkata.
Internal feuds'
The criminals invariably feud among themselves over extortion money, territories, power, sharing the spoils, etc. There is no trust among themselves and most have bodyguards on vigil round the clock. Top terrors Subrata and Joy face enmity from Liaqat and the crime guru Auranga. Subrata has conflict with Imon and Kala Jahangir as well. Sweden Aslam's sworn enemies are Liaqat, Auranga and the Hannan group. Imon, Titon and Ashiq Abdullah are united in crime and have no conflict among each other. In fact, they are related to each other, Imon having married Titon's sister and Ashiq Abdullah having married Imon's sister. However, Ashiq recently has divorced his wife.
http://www.probenewsmagazine.com/index.php...=2&contentId=56
