Chittagong police arrest notorious crime syndicate leader David Emon at border
Photo Collected
A rising figure in Chittagong’s criminal underworld, Mobarak Hossain, widely known as David Emon, has been arrested by police while attempting to flee to India via the Jessore border. Emon, who gained notoriety for extorting millions from businessmen and expatriates through threats made via foreign phone numbers, is currently facing 15 criminal cases, including multiple murder and racketeering charges.
According to Nazimul Haque, additional deputy inspector general of the Chittagong Range, Emon had returned to Bangladesh four days prior to his arrest. Authorities, acting on intelligence, apprehended him as he attempted to exit the country for a second time. Police reports indicate that Emon possesses both domestic and foreign passports and serves as one of the primary regional commanders for Sajjad Ali, a top-tier criminal currently operating from abroad.
The trajectory of Emon’s life marks a sharp decline from his youth. A native of Fatikchhari, Emon was a promising young cricketer known for his skill as a left-arm spinner. Former coaches and acquaintances recalled him as a focused athlete who trained at the city’s major stadiums with aspirations of playing at a professional level. However, after 2020, he abandoned sports and became increasingly entangled in local political circles and criminal factions.
Following the political shift on August 5, 2024, Emon went into hiding, eventually aligning himself with the notorious criminal Sajjad Ali. Police allege that Emon solidified his standing within the organization by taking a leadership role in violent turf wars, specifically over the control of industrial waste trades in the Bayezid Bostami area. Investigators note that Emon is highly proficient with firearms; social media footage previously circulated showing him wielding weapons looted from police stations during periods of unrest.
Law enforcement officials describe Emon’s modus operandi as calculated and brutal. He frequently contacted victims from abroad to demand exorbitant sums, often threatening to massacre families or leave victims’ bodies “riddled like a beehive.” In one recorded instance, he demanded 20 million taka from an internet service provider, asserting that his organization would henceforth take control of the business.
Despite being arrested in January 2025 in connection with a robbery case, Emon secured bail within 22 days, a development police say emboldened him to expand his criminal network. He is currently accused of coordinating multiple high-profile killings, including a double murder in Baklia and the assassination of an individual identified as Akbor in Patenga.
When asked about his descent into organized crime during a brief interview prior to his arrest, Emon stated that his goal from childhood was either to become a famous cricketer or a wealthy man. “I am on this path to become rich,” he admitted. Police estimate that the criminal syndicate led by Sajjad Ali, which Emon actively facilitated, maintains a core group of at least 50 gunmen and associates currently operating within the region.
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