Chattogram district police have arrested four people, including listed criminal Boro Sazzad’s associate Mobarak Hossain alias ‘Golakata Mobarak’, after police traced him in connection with multiple high-profile murder cases and moved to arrest him in Fatikchhari.
Mobarak and his associates allegedly opened fire at police when officers attempted to arrest them during a raid in Shah Nagar Pallanpara, Lelang Union, early Wednesday (26 August). Police returned fire in self-defence before arresting the four.
Police recovered four firearms, 23 rounds of ammunition, three magazines and several spent cartridges from them.
The nickname ‘Golakata Mobarak’ is linked to the gruesome murder of Babul, who was found with his throat slit. Members of Mobarak’s network now in police custody have implicated him in the killing, which police say earned him the moniker.
Chattogram District Police Superintendent Md Masud Alam disclosed the details at a press conference at the district police office at 3pm today (27 August).
Police return fire during raid
Masud Alam said CCTV footage, data analysis and intelligence helped identify those involved in the 13 June murder of Maksudul Haque Chowdhury in Pahartali. Police then traced Mobarak’s whereabouts and raided the house.
“Sensing police presence, Mobarak and his associates fired several rounds at officers. Police returned fire in self-defence and later arrested four,” he said. The other arrestees are Mohammad Raihan, Md Farid, and Md Nasir.
Police recovered a 9mm Brazilian-made Taurus pistol, a 7.65mm foreign-made pistol, a foreign-made revolver and a locally made pistol. They also recovered 18 rounds of 9mm ammunition, five rounds of 7.65mm ammunition, three pistol magazines, three pistol cartridges and four shotgun cartridges.
The 9mm Taurus pistol was initially confirmed as a government weapon looted from Kotwali police station on 5 August. Police are investigating how it reached Mobarak.
SP Masud said it had changed hands between people and that remand questioning would establish who brought it, through whom and how it reached the suspects.
Police have also received information about more firearms allegedly held by Mobarak and are trying to locate them.
‘Main shooter’ of Boro Sazzad gang
Masud Alam described Mobarak as an important member and one of the main shooters of Boro Sazzad’s gang, as well as a close associate of David Emon and Raihan. He said Mobarak would act whenever and however Boro Sazzad instructed.
According to police, Raihan sent Mobarak Maksud’s photograph before the murder, saying, “This is him.” Mobarak then carried on with the killing mission, the superintendent said.
Mobarak is linked to the murders of Jamal and Saddam in Fatikchhari, Masud in Raozan and Sarwar Babla in Chattogram city. Police also found evidence linking him to the gruesome murder of Raozan Jubodal leader Babul, who was found with his throat slit.
He allegedly took part in killings and extortion on Boro Sazzad’s orders, while also conducting criminal activities independently in Fatikchhari and surrounding areas.
SP Masud said questioning Raihan after his arrest yielded information about the Maksud murder’s planning, but who was behind it and why it was planned remain under investigation. He cautioned that releasing partial information before the investigation ends could divert the case.
