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Published : 16 Nov 2025, 02:23 AM
In the streets of Chattogram, bullets and bloodshed have become a grim backdrop to everyday life.
From city lanes to northern Upazilas, authorities trace the bloodshed to clashing criminal factions, resurfacing fugitives, political rivalries, and personal grudges.
The city’s fear is magnified by the presence of weapons stolen during last year’s August unrest, now wielded with lethal precision.
Land disputes, clashes over drugs, family feuds, and even minor quarrels have further contributed to the killings.
Police say they have arrested suspects in most cases. Law enforcement also believes that old criminals switching sides and joining new factions is driving the violence.
Following a few “targeted killings” in the city, the Chattogram Metropolitan Police commissioner recently authorised “lethal action” against armed criminals. On Tuesday, he referred to this in a radio broadcast.
‘GANG WARS’ IN THE CITY
The most high-profile recent killing in Chattogram occurred on Nov 5 at Chaillatali under Bayezid Bostami Police Station. That evening, during a public outreach event by BNP candidate Ershad Ullah in Chattogram-8, gunmen opened fire.
"Top-listed" criminal Sarwar Hossain Babla was shot dead in the attack, while Ershad and four others were injured.
Prior attempts on Sarwar’s life had failed twice; the third attempt succeeded.
Previously, Sarwar and his friend Nurun Nabi Maxon had been close aides of Sazzad Hossain, accused in the killing of eight Chattogram Chhatra League leaders. Differences arose with Sazzad, prompting Sarwar to form a separate group. Chhoto Sazzad became Sazzad Hossain’s right-hand man.
Reports suggest conflicts and clashes between followers of Chhoto Sazzad and Sarwar over extortion and criminal operations at Bayezid and Chandgaon. Both groups previously carried out extortion on behalf of Sazzad Hossain.
On Oct 21 last year, a youth known only as Tahsin was shot dead while having tea near a shop in Chandgaon. Chhoto Sazzad is the key suspect.
On Mar 15, Chhoto Sazzad was arrested from Dhaka’s Bashundhara Shopping Mall. His supporters suspected Sarwar’s followers were behind the arrest.
After 15 days, in Chandanpura under Chawk Bazar Police Station, Sarwar, seated in a private car, was pursued and fired upon. Bakhtiar Hossain Manik and Md Abdullah were killed that night.
Two months later, on May 24, in Patenga seaside, another top-listed criminal Ali Akbar alias Dhakaiya Akbar was shot dead. Ali Akbar had been a rival of Chhoto Sazzad in the criminal underworld.
CMP Commissioner Md Hasib Aziz told bdnews24.com, “Recently, Chattogram has witnessed gang-related activity citywide and districtwide. Criminals committing offences in the city often hide in Rauzan or Fatikchhari. We are tracking them.”
On the Nov 5 killing during a BNP candidate’s event, he said: “Sarwar’s killing reflects conflict between two criminal groups. No political affiliation is involved.
“The perpetrators intended to murder within the event. One person has been arrested so far; we are pursuing the others.”
‘CRIMINALS CHANGED COLOURS’
According to Bangladesh Police records, 90 murder cases were registered last year in CMP’s jurisdiction. Of these, 20 occurred in August and 10 in July.
This year, 61 murder cases have been registered so far, with April seeing the highest at 11 cases.
On Nov 3, Hasib, a youth, was stabbed in Palash Hamjarbag Residential Area.
On Nov 13, Akash Ghosh was stabbed to death over a financial dispute. Four arrests have been made. The week before, on Nov 7, Md Akbar had been killed in similar fashion in front of his house in Maizpara, Halishahar, following an argument.
CMP Commissioner Hasib said, “Despite the rise in killings, police and the RAB have apprehended the perpetrators. Our goal is to prevent criminals from instilling fear among the public.”
Regarding the spike in murders, he added: “From Aug 5 to Aug 8 last year, weapons and ammunition were looted from various CMP police stations. These arms appear to have reached criminals, who may still be using them. Recovering them is a major challenge.”
Noting that the nature of crime was different over the past 17 years, he said: “Some criminals were in hiding, but they have resurfaced. Others have changed colours and entered new areas. This also explains part of the problem.”
‘POLITICAL’ KILLINGS IN RAOZAN
At least 15 murders have occurred in Chattogram’s Raozan Upazila since Aug 5 last year, with police saying at least seven of them are linked to political rivalry and local dominance.
Three people were killed over family disputes, and five others for multiple unrelated reasons, according to police.
A total of 39 suspects have been arrested over these incidents.
Raozan, a hilly route to Rangamati district, has long been known as a hotspot for political tensions.
On the night of Feb 19 this year, Bangladesh Awami Jubo League activist Mohammad Hasan was picked up from his home and murdered at Chowdhury Hat in Noapara Union.
On Jan 24, dried fish trader Jahangir Alam was shot dead by masked gunmen while walking to Friday prayers in Asad Ali Matbor Para of the union.
Police and the victim’s family claim he was killed over extortion.
On the night of Mar 15, Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal activist Komor Uddin Jitu was beaten to death at Amir Hat Bazar in Holdia Union following a dispute over putting up a banner of former MP ABM Fazle Karim Chowdhury and a Facebook post.
Jitu, a Saudi expatriate, had returned home for Eid holidays.
Then, on Apr 19, Jubo Dal activist Abdullah Manik was shot and hacked to death while eating at his home in Garibullah Para of Bagoan Union.
A follower of Giasuddin Quader Chowdhury, the BNP vice-chairman, Manik had returned to Bangladesh on Aug 17 last year.
Three days later, on Apr 22, 10–12 armed men arrived in a CNG autorickshaw at Gazipara Bazar and shot dead Jubo Dal activist Mohammad Ibrahim in broad daylight. He too was a follower of Giasuddin.
On Jul 6, Jubo Dal leader Muhammad Selim Uddin was shot in the head and killed at Ishan Bhotter Hat in Kodalpur Union. Two of the killers were wearing burqas. He was also a Giasuddin follower.
On Jul 10, the body of Jubo Dal activist Didarul Alam was recovered from Paschim Betbunia in neighbouring Rangamati’s Kawkhali. He was an associate of slain Selim.
As the body was found within Rangamati district, police did not count the case as a Raozan incident.
Two months later, on Oct 25, Jubo Dal activist Alamgir Alam was shot dead in front of Kaykobad Jame Mosque near Charabattola Bazar in Raozan municipality.
After spending nearly 12 years in prison, he was released following Aug 5 last year.
After his death, Golam Akbar Khondoker, convenor of the now-dissolved BNP North Chattogram unit, issued a statement demanding the arrest of those involved and those who ordered the killing.
Earlier, on Aug 28 last year, Abdul Mannan, general secretary of the Sramik League’s Betbunia Model Union unit, was beaten to death on a road in Rahmat Para, Ward No. 9 of Raozan municipality.
On Sept 1, the bloodied body of agricultural worker Muhammad Yusuf Mia was found at the cattle farm of former MP Fazle Karim Chowdhury’s garden house.
On Nov 11, three days after going missing, the body of Abu Taher, a member of the Bangladesh Awami Olama League, was recovered floating in a canal.
8 BODIES IN 5 WEEKS IN HATHAZARI
Neighbouring Hathazari Upazila has seen eight deaths in the past five weeks, with police confirming that at least five were murders.
On Oct 7, Abdul Hakim, a businessman and Raozan BNP worker, was shot dead beside the western approach of the Madunaghat Bridge while returning from his agricultural farm in Raozan.
Police later said he was killed by “hired attackers” over turf control of the riverbank sand trade.
On Oct 14, Opu Das, president of the Chhatra Dal’s Chikandandi Union unit, was stabbed to death at night in Chowdhury Hat.
Fellow Chhatra Dal worker Muhammad Tamim, who was with him, died the next day in hospital.
Between Nov 10 and 12, four more bodies were recovered from different areas of the Upazila.
Kazi Md Tarek Aziz, additional superintendent of police for the Hathazari circle, told bdnews24.com that several murders and body recoveries had taken place in Raozan, Hathazari, Fatikchhari and Bhujpur in recent months, with police arresting suspects after solving the cases.
He said personal disputes, past enmities and sudden confrontations were found behind many of the killings, while politically motivated murders were fewer. Many suspects had no prior criminal records.
The officer added that most of the recent bodies recovered in Hathazari appeared to be accidental deaths, though all had been sent for postmortem examination.
Action would be taken once reports arrived.
Officer Tarek said increased patrols and strengthened community policing were needed to curb crime.
‘6 GROUPS BEHIND CRIMES IN RAOZAN’
At a media briefing on Monday, Chattogram Police Superintendent Md Saiful Islam Santu said: “After analysing crime patterns, we found that around six groups in Raozan are involved in different activities. Some are working as target killers or hired assassins.
“If they attempt further crimes, we will take the toughest stance. In Raozan and across Chattogram, either the terrorists will stay, or the police will stay. We will not allow anyone who threatens public safety to remain.”
He said criminals often use politics as a “shield” to cover their activities.
According to district police data, seven of Raozan’s killings were linked to turf wars.
The remaining nine included disputes over business, cattle theft, extramarital affairs, family conflicts and incidents such as drowning while intoxicated.
Claiming arrests in all the cases, Santu said: “Investigations have progressed significantly. Many of the arrested suspects have already confessed in court.”
