Police arrested notorious criminal Mobarak Hossain from the false ceiling of a washroom in Fatikchhari, Chittagong, following a tense hours-long operation on early Wednesday.
Mobarak is known as the second-in-command of jailed top criminal David Emon and is allegedly involved in several killings, including the murder of Jubo Dal leader Masud in Raozan.
He opened fire at police from the false ceiling during the raid, firing six rounds and injuring five police personnel, including Chittagong Additional Superintendent of Police Kazi Md Tarek Aziz.
Police arrested him after his firearm jammed. Three of his associates, Md Raihan, Md Farid and Md Nasir, were also arrested from the house.
Acting on a tip-off, police surrounded a house in Shahnagar area of Lelang Union around 3am on Tuesday. After the occupants refused to open the iron gate, police broke it down at around 4:30am in the presence of local residents.
Officers entered the house and found Mobarak hiding in the washroom’s false ceiling. He opened fire as police approached, injuring five officers.
The injured include Additional SP Tarek Aziz, Fatikchhari Police Station OC Robiul Alam Khan, Aziz’s bodyguard Constable Mamunur Rashid, and Constables Shah Newaz and Saddam Hossain. They received medical treatment.
Tarek Aziz, who led the operation, said police had learned of Mobarak’s whereabouts after arresting David Emon on July 29. Several raids were subsequently conducted in the remote hills of Fatikchhari, but Mobarak evaded arrest.
On Monday, police arrested four of his associates, Arafat, Md Munna, Iqbal and Babul, during a raid in the Kanchannagar hills.
Police said Mobarak later left the hills and took shelter at a house belonging to an acquaintance in Shahnagar, apparently considering it safer.
Tarek Aziz said police found Mobarak’s associate Raihan hiding inside the false ceiling above a washroom after entering the house. He was arrested from there. Police later detained two other associates, Nasir and Farid, from inside the false ceiling.
“Since the criminals could open fire on police from inside, the operation team proceeded cautiously. At one point, Mobarak was found hiding in the false ceiling of a washroom inside one of the rooms. As police entered the room, he opened fire with a Brazilian-made Taurus pistol. Police returned fire.
“Mobarak fired six rounds, while police fired seven. One of the bullets passed close to Tarek Aziz’s ear. Mobarak’s pistol jammed when he attempted to fire the seventh round. Police then brought him down from the false ceiling and recovered the weapon.
“The pistol had been looted from Kotwali Police Station in Chittagong city on August 5, 2024. After Mobarak’s arrest, police conducted raids in Fatikchhari and Raozan until 10pm on Wednesday to recover more weapons.”
Tarek Aziz said police sought Mobarak’s remand in two cases—one over the looting of the firearm and another over the attack on police. On Thursday, a court granted him eight days’ remand—four days in each case.
The remand was granted in the two separate cases filed with Fatikchhari Police Station over the weapon theft and attack on police.
Superintendent of Chittagong Police Md Masud Alam said Mobarak was a notorious criminal who used remote hilly areas as safe hideouts, making it difficult for police to arrest him.
“Acting on a tip-off, police arrested Mobarak and his associates. He has admitted to involvement in several killings, including the murder of Jubo Dal leader Masud in Raozan,” he said.
Police recovered a 9mm foreign-made pistol, a 7.65mm foreign-made pistol, a foreign-made revolver and a locally made pistol, along with ammunition, three magazines and spent bullet casings.
