Businesspeople live in constant fear as police fail to rein in the menace
A criminal network allegedly run by a fugitive top criminal has tightened its grip on Chattogram city and several neighbouring upazilas, with businesses facing escalating extortion demands and armed attacks if they refuse to pay, police and locals say.
Police say most recent killings, armed attacks and extortion are linked to followers of Sazzad Ali Khan, widely known as “Boro Sazzad”. An Interpol-wanted suspect, he is believed to be directing criminal activities in Chattogram from abroad.
Despite a series of high-profile shootings and extortion-related attacks, law enforcement agencies have yet to dismantle the network or stop the violence.
Business owners in Chandgaon, Bakalia, Bayezid, Hathazari, Raozan and Rangunia say they live under constant fear. The owners refused to be named.
Victims who refuse to pay have allegedly faced armed attacks on their homes and businesses, while some have been killed.
Despite the incidents, many victims refrain from filing complaints, believing police investigations rarely lead to justice. They fear further retaliation.
According to police, Boro Sazzad commands a network of more than 50 active members operating under three or four trusted lieutenants. The gang allegedly controls extortion rackets across Bayezid Bostami, Panchlaish, Chandgaon, Hathazari, Fatikchhari and Raozan. They target the sand trade, garment scrap businesses, transport operators, internet service providers (ISPs), construction projects and other businesses.
Police say the gang uses encrypted messaging platforms, virtual phone numbers and hideouts in remote hilly areas to evade arrest. Members often carry out attacks in broad daylight before fleeing to hideouts in Raozan and Fatikchhari. Investigators also believe the network is increasingly recruiting teen gang members.
On Sunday, armed extortionists vandalised a 10-storey under-construction building in South Pahartali of Hathazari after its owner refused to pay Tk 20 lakh. They also exploded crude bombs.
On July 13, around 30 gang members stormed the office of an ISP on Chawkbazar-Bakalia Access Road after allegedly demanding Tk 2 crore as a one-time payment and Tk 10 lakh per month.
Police believe the attack was carried out at the direction of Mobarak Hossain Emon, alias David Emon, one of Boro Sazzad’s key associates. Emon was arrested yesterday in Jashore.
Businesspeople and police, wishing not to be named, said extortion has increased in Bayezid Bostami, Nasirabad, Hathazari, Raozan, Rangunia and Fatikchhari since August 5, 2024, as criminals took advantage of lax monitoring.
Police said the pattern is similar in most cases. Local operatives first gather information on potential targets before demanding money. If victims refuse, the gang attacks their homes or businesses.
Several business owners, speaking on condition of anonymity, said they are forced to pay to run their businesses.
The owner of an under-construction building in Bayezid said, “Anyone constructing a building here has to pay. They not only demand cash but also force builders to buy sand and cement from suppliers they control. Some people negotiate payments just to continue construction.
“There is no point in reporting these incidents to the police,” he added. “People are too frightened to file complaints because they do not believe they will get any protection.”
Local sources also alleged that garment factory owners and garment scrap traders in the Bayezid industrial area are forced to make monthly payments to groups operating in the name of Boro Sazzad.
One such victim is Jasim Uddin of Hathazari, who said extortionists initially demanded Tk 20 lakh. After he filed a complaint against unidentified criminals, the gang called again, raising the demand to Tk 50 lakh.
On January 2 and February 28, Smart Group owner Mujibur Rahman’s residence was attacked after he allegedly refused to pay Tk 10 crore. He first received threats through WhatsApp before armed men attacked his home with firearms.
The attacks, despite police security at the home, went viral on social media. None of the attackers seen in CCTV footage has been arrested.
A senior Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP) official, speaking anonymously, said, “A case was filed after the attacks. However, I later heard the matter was settled between the businessman and Boro Sazzad.”
He said police were never informed of any such settlement.
Mujibur denied the allegation of settling the matter.
“If I had negotiated with them, none of this would have happened,” he said. “I remain concerned about my safety and the security of my family. After receiving their calls, I blocked their numbers.”
INSIDE THE NETWORK
Police describe Boro Sazzad as a former Shibir activist facing 17 cases involving murder, illegal arms and extortion. He was an accused in the sensational eight-murder case in Chattogram of 2000. Although a trial court sentenced him to death, he was later acquitted by the High Court.
Investigators say his associates became more active following the political changeover on August 5, 2024. Choto Sazzad, also known as Sazzad Hossain, initially took over the local operations then.
Choto Sazzad was arrested at a shopping mall in Dhaka on March 15, 2025, after previously escaping police by opening fire in Bayezid.
Although several videos showed him carrying firearms, police failed to recover any weapons after his arrest. He also faces 17 cases involving murder, illegal arms, and extortion.
Following his imprisonment, police say local operations were taken over by David Emon, Mohammad Raihan Alam, and Borhan Uddin.
Hailing from Fatikchhari, David Emon is accused in seven cases, including the March 30 double murder in Bakalia and the killing of listed criminal Dhakaiya Akbar at Patenga Sea Beach on May 23. Police believe he possesses 15 to 20 firearms.
Raihan Alam is accused in 16 cases, including eight murders in Raozan and Chattogram.
POLICE RESPONSE
According to police, the gang uses virtual phone numbers and encrypted messaging platforms to issue extortion demands, making callers difficult to trace.
Police say they still do not know the whereabouts of Boro Sazzad or Raihan. Investigators believe many of their associates are hiding in remote forest hideouts in Raozan and Fatikchhari.
CMP Commissioner Hasan Md Shawkot Ali told Media, “Police investigate every incident to identify those responsible. Many members of the group have already been arrested, and we are making every effort to apprehend the remaining armed criminals.”
He said police would also take action against juvenile gang members allegedly joining the network.
Chattogram Superintendent of Police Masud Alam said drives to arrest the criminals are continuing.
“Give us time; we will surely arrest them.”