Rab claims arrest of top-terror’s aide
Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) yesterday claimed to have arrested a close aide of a top-listed fugitive criminal.
Top-terror Zeesan Ahmed's associate Mazharul Islam Shakil flew to Dhaka from Dubai to "murder a godfather" and take control of "underworld" of Bangladesh, Rab officials said in a press release yesterday.
"Shakil came to Bangladesh on January 12, just a few days before the city corporation election. He showed his presence through various activities," Sarwar Bin Quashem, director of Rab's Legal and Media wing, told a press briefing yesterday.
Rab claimed to have detained him from the capital's Mohammadpur early yesterday. However, Shakil's family members said he was picked up along with a friend from Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) on Thursday night.
Rab could not say where his friend is now.
The Rab members also recovered two pistols and bullets from Shakil's possession, added the official.
Sarwar said the underworld of Bangladesh was shaken after the recent casino drive, where crores of money used to "fly" everyday.
"Now the underworld has been dried up. To take control of it, Shakil came to Dhaka to lead the underworld for Zeesan," the Rab official claimed.
Though the Rab director claimed Shakil came to Dhaka on instruction of Zeesan, the official could not say anything about Zeesan's whereabouts.
"Interpol is dealing with the matter," he added.
Top-listed fugitive criminal Zeesan Ahmed of Bangladesh was arrested in UAE in October last year. Later, he was reportedly freed on bail by a Dubai court, according to media reports.
Zeesan had an Indian passport in his possession, in which he was named Ali Akbar Choudhury, a police official said.
He is on the home ministry's list of 23 top criminals, published a decade ago.
There is a reward on his head.
He was notorious in Gulshan, Banani, Badda, Motijheel and some other areas of the capital. He manipulated tender bids and extorted money from people and businesses, officials said.
Transnational police organisation Interpol has also issued a "Red Notice" for him.
Zeesan's name resurfaced during the ongoing drive against illegal casinos and arrest of two Jubo League leaders GK Shamim and Khaled Mahmud Bhuiyan.
Officials believe Zeesan was in close contact with them.
WHO IS SHAKIL MAZHAR?
Hailing from Dagonbhuiyan of Feni, Shakil joined Chhatra League in 2005 when he was studying in Jagannath University. He later got a post in Dhaka city unit of Chhatra League.
"From 2009, he got involved in tender-related matters with Bangladesh Railway in exchange of money. Later in 2010, he got involved with tender for books," the Rab official said.
In 2013, he returned his home in Feni, but continued political activities there. Two years later, he again came to the capital and started politics of the ruling party again.
"But this time, he had an enmity with Jubo League leader Khaled Mahmud Bhuiyan, who was arrested in recent casino drive, over tender in railway," added the official.
During the period, Shakil grew close ties with GK Shamim, a top government-listed contractor, according to Rab.
In June 2016, Shakil was accused in Jubo League leader Rajib's murder. Within four days, he left the country and went to China where worked at a cargo service.
From there, he went to Dubai in 2018. There he met Zeesan through one his friend's contact, the law enforcers claimed.
"Within a very short period of time, Shakil grew close relations with Zeesan and became an important member for his business. They used to operate underworld in Bangladesh and conducted several terror activities linked with extortion," added the Rab official.
Rab said they recovered some messages from Shakil's phone showing contacts with Zeesan.
Shakil maintained close relationship with some Jubo League leaders. He posted several photos of his political activities in January and February on Facebook.
"He was admitted to BSMMU on February 18," the Rab official said.
Shakil's cousin Fahim Mahmud told The Daily Star that Rab picked up Shakil along with his associate Shawon on Thursday around 11pm from BSMMU. A general diary was filed with Shahbagh Police Station in this connection.
"A nurse working there told me two plainclothes men picked them up in a white microbus. After a GD was filed, when we were trying to recover the CCTV footage of the hospital along with police, two Rab men came and took away the DVR. Then I saw the news of Shakil's arrest on TV," he added.
Rab, however, refuted the allegation.