From targeted killings to extortion, has David Iman finally been stopped?

After August 5, 2024, several names, including Chhoto Sajjad, Raihan, and Mobarak Hossain Iman, better known as David Iman, emerged prominently in Chattogram’s criminal underworld. Their alleged ‘godfather’ was identified as Sajjad Ali, better known as Boro Sajjad, a top listed criminal who remains a fugitive abroad. A series of murders, extortion, public shootings, and other criminal incidents followed.

After the arrest of the increasingly reckless Sajjad Hossain, better known as Chhoto Sajjad, from Bashundhara in Dhaka on March 15, 2025, he remained in jail. Following his arrest, Raihan and David Iman allegedly continued operating across Chattogram with the full strength of their group. There has been discussion that they received protection from influential groups. Raihan and Iman had become a symbol of fear, and even law enforcement agencies appeared helpless in dealing with them. As a result, many believed it was nearly impossible to stop them.

After nearly two years of operating freely, David Iman was finally arrested by police in Jashore. Raihan now remains at large.

Chattogram Superintendent of Police Masud Alam told Agamir Somoy, “Our team is also working to arrest Raihan. We conducted an operation after receiving information that he was staying in Noakhali. He managed to escape by a narrow margin. Every member of their group will be arrested.”

David Iman was arrested along with three associates in a joint operation by Chattogram and Jashore district police early Wednesday from the Jhumjhumpur area under Kotwali Police Station in Jashore. The three associates are Alis Tamal, Shafayat, and Shamim.

David Iman arrested with his associates

David Iman is the son of Mohammad Musa of Kanchannagar village in Kanchannagar Union of Fatikchhari upazila in Chattogram. His family also has a residence in the Aturar Depot area under Bayezid Bostami Police Station in the city. Police have found information linking him to 13 cases so far. Of those, 10 cases, including three murder cases, are in the city. The remaining three cases are in Hathazari, Raozan, and Fatikchhari.

Over the past two years, the group allegedly carried out at least a dozen targeted killings. Rivalries in the underworld, struggles for dominance, extortion, control over sand quarries, and revenge over previous disputes kept the whole of Chattogram unstable.

A senior officer of Chattogram Metropolitan Police said, “Many incidents of creating terror through gunfire for extortion, assault, and attempted murder took place under the leadership of David Iman. But many people did not file cases against him out of fear. The attack and vandalism at an internet service provider in Bakalia also took place on his instructions. But his name was not mentioned in the case.”

Members of the group led by notorious Shibir cadre Sajjad Ali Khan, better known as Boro Sajjad, who remains a fugitive abroad, began regaining influence during the final period of the Awami League government. Chhoto Sajjad, who controlled the group inside the country, was arrested by police on July 17, 2024. Twelve days after the political changeover on August 5, he was released from jail after securing bail in 10 cases, including murder. After that, Chhoto Sajjad allegedly began operating recklessly with Raihan and David Iman.

David Iman was arrested from the Bayezid Bostami Police Station area of the city on January 8, 2025. He was released on bail within a few days. Chhoto Sajjad was arrested afterward.

Late on the night of March 29, 2025, two people were shot dead inside a moving private car on Bakalia Access Road in the city. Another top listed criminal, Sarwar Hossain Babul, was also inside the vehicle. Police said the attack was aimed at him. Although he survived, two of his associates were killed. According to police, the attack was led by David Iman.

On November 5 that year, Sarwar Babul was shot dead in the Hajipara area under Bayezid Bostami Police Station while accompanying BNP candidate Ershad Ullah during election campaigning. According to police, Raihan shot Babul dead by placing a pistol against his head. On May 23 of the same year, David Iman and Raihan allegedly killed criminal Akbar Ali, better known as Dhakaiya Akbar, in Patenga.

Police have also found David Iman’s involvement in the attack on a businessman’s building in Hathazari

A district police inspector said, “Sarwar Babul and Dhakaiya Akbar were killed over underworld rivalries. After eliminating obstacles, the Boro Sajjad group, meaning Raihan and Iman, became even more reckless. Over the past two years, they carried out at least a dozen targeted killings. Rivalries in the underworld, struggles for dominance, extortion, control over sand quarries, and revenge over previous disputes kept the whole of Chattogram unstable.”

According to multiple police officers responsible for maintaining records on Chattogram’s criminal underworld, after the fall of the Awami League government on August 5, 2024, Boro Sajjad divided his group into three zones to expand his influence and assigned three individuals to oversee them.

Raihan and his 20 member team were assigned to control sand quarries along the Karnaphuli River from Raozan to Boalkhali. Borhan was assigned to control the scrap business in Chattogram city. His team includes Belal, Hasan, Naeem, Sohag, and Sarwar, a friend of Sajjad. David Iman was assigned to collect extortion in Fatikchhari, Hathazari, and Chattogram city. His group consists of around 30 members. Chhoto Sajjad and his team, along with one of Boro Sajjad’s cousins, coordinated among all the groups.

Most recently, following the attack and vandalism at an internet service provider in Bakalia, police and the Rapid Action Battalion intensified efforts to arrest all members of the group.