'Burma' Saiful's gang becomes unstoppable in Ctg after 5 August

On 16 June 2021, the residents of Burma Colony in Chattogram's Bayezid area breathed a sigh of relief when top terror Saiful Islam Saif aka Burma Saiful was injured and arrested after a "gunfight" with the police.

Saiful and his gang, which includes three of his brothers, have long terrorised the Bayezid, Panchlaish, and Khulshi areas of the port city, committing crimes such as murder, extortion, drug dealing, and kidnapping.

However, their relief was short-lived.

After securing bail in May last year, Saiful, a former Chhatra Dal leader, resumed his criminal activities with full force following the fall of the Awami League government on 5 August.

Locals say with local Awami League leaders no longer in the picture, Saiful has gained even more power, unleashing a renewed reign of terror on the residents of Burma Colony and adjacent areas.

Police sources say alongside controlling gambling and drug business Saiful also targets the industries of Bayezid and Nasirabad area for extortion. He even bags the contract of supplying different items in the industries of the area with his influence of terror.

Seeking anonymity, the owner of an industry at Bayezid told TBS, "If anyone denies or delays paying the demanded amount, the gang launches an attack on the officials and vandalises factories."

On 12 January, a businessman named Nasir Uddin, a resident of the Sholoshahar Railway Station area, was brutally attacked by armed assailants with sharp weapons, leaving him critically injured.

"Residents of the area recently formed a committee to prevent illegal activities like gambling and drug abuse in the locality. After receiving information from us, Panchlaish Police conducted raids at several spots and busted gambling and drug peddling operations run by Saiful," Nasir said.

"In response to the police operation, the criminal gang led by Burma Saiful launched the attack to take revenge and terrify the people of the area," he added.

According to police sources, Saiful has been accused in 29 cases filed with Bayezid, Panchlaish, Chandgaon, and Kotwali police stations. He was expelled from Chhatra Dal in October 2024 due to his alleged involvement in the murder of a youth in Chattogram city.

His three brothers – Shamsu, Shabuj, and Fahim – are also actively involved in his gang. Shamsu faces 12 cases, Shabuj 21 cases, and Fahim one case.

The gang, according to police, consists of over 100 members, most of whom have been accused in 10 to 20 cases each.

In a recent development, Chattogram police in a raid on Saturday night arrested four members of Burma Saiful's gang and rescued three Iskcon members who had been abducted by the group earlier that day. 

The kidnappers demanded a ransom of Tk9 lakh and subjected the victims to severe physical abuse before relocating them to a secret location in the Hillview area of the city, Rois Uddin, deputy commissioner of Chattogram Metropolitan Police said at a media briefing yesterday.

The victims have been identified as Keshab Mitra Das, 43; priest of Isckon Probortak Sri Krishna Temple; Rubel Rudra (42), temple staff; and local resident Samir Das, 45. 

The arrested individuals were identified as Bashir Ahmed Rana, 27; Md Jihad, 24, Md Arif, 24, and Md Iman Hossain Saddam, 23.

"We are actively working to apprehend Saiful, and efforts are underway to bring him to justice," Rois said, adding that Saiful's political identity would not shield him from legal consequences.

According to locals, Saiful's family migrated from Myanmar in the 1960s and took shelter in Burma Colony. The area, predominantly inhabited by Rohingya refugees, became known as Burma Colony for this reason.

In 2002, Saiful and two of his brothers began engaging in crimes such as extortion and drug peddling in the Burma Colony area.

Locals say that with the backing of influential BNP leaders at the time, Saiful formed a teen gang and expanded his criminal activities. He later rose to become the joint secretary of the Chattogram city unit of Chhatra Dal.

A resident of the Bayezid area, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, "Saiful and his brothers control all kinds of illegal activities, including drug peddling, gambling, land grabbing, and extortion, in areas such as Hillview, Rangpur Colony, Forest Gate, Mandar Tila, Amin Colony, Alinagar, and Nabinagar."

TBS attempted to contact Saiful for a comment, but his number could not be reached.

Political and police lenience alleged 

On 29 September 2024, a businessman named Shahjahan was allegedly attacked by Saiful's gang in the Kunjachhaya area of Bayezid. He was beaten, robbed of Tk20 lakh, and his woodshop was vandalised.

However, instead of taking action against Saiful, the police filed a case against Shahjahan and arrested him while he was undergoing treatment at Chattogram Medical College Hospital.

"After being released on bail, I filed a case accusing Saiful's brother Fahim and 30 of his associates who were involved in the attack and robbery. But the police have not arrested any of the accused, even though they move freely in the area," Shahjahan said.

"Afraid of Saiful's gang, I have been in hiding and forced to abandon my business," he added.

Locals allege that Saiful has secured backing from BNP leaders and some members of the police to carry out his criminal activities. However, BNP leaders and the police have denied the allegations.

Abdulla Al Harun, president of the Bayezid Thana unit of the BNP, said Saiful had been expelled from Chhatra Dal for anti-organisational activities. "His primary membership has been suspended. There is no way we can support him," he said.

Despite being expelled from Chhatra Dal, Saiful has been attempting to portray himself as a follower of BNP Vice-Chairman Abdullah Al Noman, printing banners and posters featuring the central BNP leader's photo.

However, this reporter could not confirm his connection with the BNP leader, as Abdullah Al Noman and his son, Sayed Al Noman, could not be reached for comment.

Officer-in-Charge of Bayezid Police Station, Arifur Rahman, said, "Police are conducting raids to arrest Burma Saiful, but we have been unable to capture him as he has not been in the Burma Colony area."

Faisal Ahmed, deputy commissioner of the Chattogram Metropolitan Police North Zone, said that police had already arrested four members of Saiful's gang following the incident at Sholoshahar Station.

"We recently conducted an operation in the Burma Colony area to apprehend gang members and arrested one of Saiful's brothers," he said.

"The drives are ongoing to capture Saiful as well. There is no scope for tolerating criminals while maintaining law and order in the city," he added.