Chattogram crime bosses remain jailed despite securing bail in multiple cases
Photo Collected
Notorious gang leader Shahidul Islam, known locally as “Buissa,” has been granted bail in three criminal cases, sparking widespread public concern in the Bangladeshi port city of Chittagong. Despite his involvement in at least 32 criminal proceedings, including charges of murder, extortion, narcotics trafficking, and illegal possession of firearms, the High Court recently ordered his release on bail in three separate cases between early and mid-July.
Chittagong Central Jail officials confirmed that while the bail orders for these specific cases have been processed, the suspect remains incarcerated due to the high volume of other pending cases against him. Prison authorities emphasized that the existence of multiple unresolved charges precludes his immediate release.
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Shahidul, a third-grade dropout originally from Bhola district, rose to prominence by organizing local youth gangs in the Panchlaish and Chandgaon areas. According to law enforcement reports, he previously operated under the guise of political affiliation, leveraging the image of the now-banned student wing of the Awami League to exert influence. His criminal activities are marked by extreme violence; investigators have documented his use of a dedicated “torture cell” in a residential building near the Bahaddarhat market. Raids on his hideouts have previously uncovered caches of weapons, ammunition—some of which were traced to looted police stockpiles—and even automated currency counting machines used to process proceeds from extortion and drug sales.
Residents in neighborhoods like Badurtala have expressed fear that the potential release of such individuals could reignite a cycle of violence. Local business owners recalled multiple incidents where Shahidul and his associates opened fire in public spaces following failed extortion attempts, including a 2023 assault on a local garage owner who refused to pay a demand of 1.5 million takas.
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The concern regarding judicial leniency extends to other notorious figures in the region. Ehteshamul Haque, alias “Bhola,” a suspect in the high-profile 2016 murder of Mahmuda Khanam, wife of former Superintendent of Police Babul Akter, has also secured bail in six of his eight pending cases. Investigators identify Ehteshamul as a key operative in the Bakalia area and an accused in the 2015 murder of nursing instructor Anjali Rani Devi. Like Shahidul, Ehteshamul remains in custody as police continue to move for his arrest in additional cases to prevent his release.
Chittagong Metropolitan Public Prosecutor Mofizul Haque Bhuiyan stated that the state intends to bring the status of these high-risk detainees to the attention of the Attorney General. Meanwhile, city police have vowed to maintain strict surveillance on known criminal elements to prevent a resurgence of gang-related extortion and public disorder.
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