Police move to dismantle Sazzad’s three tier network

“Everything of Sazzad Bhai’s is auto maal (extreme and one track minded). Hundreds of Raihans like me are lying in his store.” “I have no enmity with any brother from the general public, administration or media. I have no competition with anyone. Finally, I want to say one thing. Instead of repeatedly chanting Raihan Raihan in the media, first find out those through whom Raihan is created.”

Police have taken notice of these two Facebook posts made on August 17 and 21 by Raihan Alam of Raozan in Chattogram who is on the police’s most wanted or top criminal list.

Police have begun working with Raihan’s statements and information obtained from recently arrested “top criminals” David Emon and Mobarak Hossain alias “Golakata” Mobarak alias “Kala” Mobarak.

Law enforcement officials said Sazzad Ali Khan alias Bara Sazzad who is absconding abroad is the “godfather” of Chattogram’s notorious criminal network. There is no ambiguity about this. Even while staying outside the country his sphere of influence has not been completely dismantled. Rather the network remains active and operational at the field level through armed associates such as David Emon, Raihan and the Mobaraks.

Sazzad now uses a passport under the name Abdullah after changing his identity. Police have begun collecting information on how and through what strategy he is staying outside the country.

Chattogram Police Superintendent Masud Alam said, “After speaking with several people who were arrested, I understood that Bara Sazzad controls everything in the criminal world here. He is trying to do whatever he wants while remaining beyond reach abroad. Now it is essential for us to reach him. How we will do that will be decided after discussions with those at the policy making level. There is no reason to think that Sazzad will remain beyond reach simply because he is abroad. Whether he stays abroad or in the sky if the state wants it can bring him back.”

The three tier structure of Bara Sazzad

On July 28 Mobarak Hossain Emon alias David Emon was arrested in the Jhikargachha border area of Jashore. On August 26 “Kala” Mobarak was arrested from Fatikchhari with several weapons.

Police officials said that following the arrests of David Emon and Mobarak they now have a picture of the “three tier structure” of the criminal network of Bara Sazzad who is staying abroad.

One group carries out Bara Sazzad’s plans and instructions. Another group directly takes part in attacks or uses weapons. Others remain around the scene of an incident and provide assistance.

After the political change on August 5, 2024 field level criminals said Sazzad Hossain used to control underworld activities on behalf of Bara Sazzad. After Choto Sazzad was arrested David Emon and Raihan became important figures in the network.

Mobarak was David Emon’s second in command and the main shooter of the group. Mobarak also had direct communication with Bara Sazzad. Police officials believe the network of Bara Sazzad will become weaker if Raihan can be arrested.

What Bara Sazzad says in response

Bara Sazzad has consistently denied having contact with Emon and Raihan. The Agamir Somoy reporter contacted him through WhatsApp on the night of August 28.

Regarding the allegation that he controls the criminal world in Chattogram while staying abroad he said, “I have been outside the country for 30 years. Am I Nelson Mandela who came out after spending 27 years in prison and became the president of his country? If I had so much power and if so many incidents happened on my instructions, then there would have been no need for police in the country.”

Regarding the SP’s statement about his communication with the arrested criminals Sazzad said, “When I left the country SP Masud Sahib had not even joined the service. I have never seen the faces of Emon and Raihan. I left the country before they were born. Have I now become a saint of Allah that they would fall in love with me without even seeing me and would love me? If I gave an order, they would simply kill someone. Do I have that much power? Is it possible?”

Search for information through Interpol begins

In this context police are looking for ways to bring Bara Sazzad back to the country or cut off his communication with the criminal network operating in Bangladesh. He is on the Red Notice of the International Criminal Police Organization, Interpol.

Bara Sazzad is the son of Abdul Gani Contractor of the Chalitataly area under Bayezid Bostami Police Station in Chattogram city. He was a talented child from an established family who studied in an English medium school. He became involved in the criminal world in the 1990s.

Sazzad’s name spread across the country after he was arrested with an AK 47 rifle. During the RAB “crossfire era” he was released from jail on bail in 2004 and fled to Dubai.

Police said Sazzad went from Dubai to India and is currently staying there. Members of his group based in Bangladesh are covering his living expenses. Money extorted from the criminal world is sent to him through hundi.

In 2011 Mohammad Kamruzzaman who was then an SI at Bayezid Bostami Police Station in Chattogram city and the investigating officer in cases against Bara Sazzad applied to Interpol through the Home Ministry for his arrest.

In October 2012 Indian police detained Bara Sazzad at Amritsar airport while he was traveling to Dubai. However, two officials of the Chattogram Metropolitan Police at the time said he could not be brought back because of confusion over his name and address and because the Awami League government’s higher authorities did not give the green signal for an “unknown reason.”

When asked about the passport under the name Abdullah Bara Sazzad told Agamir Somoy, “These are matters from 15 years ago. Since they cannot find anything new the police are bringing these old matters back into the market.”