Zeesan planned to kill 4 Jubo League leaders

Top terror Zeesan Ahmed Monty had been exercising control over the underworld in Dhaka through extortion, tender manipulation and target killings even as he kept himself at a safe distance in Dubai.  Recent events, however, indicate that he has lost that control. Indications are that he planned to kill four top Jubo League leaders who once worked for him.  He hatched the plot and sent arms to Dhaka with the purpose of disposing of the four men. It was an attempt on his part to reassert control over the underworld elements working for him.

To have his "lost empire" restored, Zeesan devised his strategy in Dubai to assassinate the four Jubo League leaders.

With this sinister end in mind, Zeesan sent two semi-automatic AK-22 rifles and other weapons to Dhaka from Dubai. A vigilant Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), however, arrested three of Zeesan's accomplices and seized the arms from them. In their confessional statements in court following their arrest, they revealed sensational information regarding the new polarisation in Dhaka's underworld, sources in the court and DB have said.

The Detective Branch sources said that during interrogation the three Zeesan accomplices gave out the details of the plan to kill the four Jubo League leaders. Police came to know about Zeesan's present whereabouts through analysing recent communications between Zeesan and his cohorts. Later the police headquarters informed Dubai Police about the results of the analysis through Interpol.  These steps led to Zeesan's arrest in Dubai.

The source also said that after learning about the murder plot Jubo League leaders Samrat and Khaled held two secret meetings with Zeesan in Singapore to settle the issue, but the meetings turned out to be abortive. It was after the meetings that the murder weapons were despatched to Dhaka by Zeesan.

According to sources, Zeesan killed two Detective Branch police officials in Malibagh in 2003 before fleeing to India.  He carried a passport using the false name 'Ali Akbar' during the time he spent in India.  It was from India that he moved to Dubai, from where he asserted his control over Dhaka's crime world.  It is alleged that he was close to the top levels of the Jubo League leadership structure.

Fortune was not to favour Zeesan following the national elections in 2018. His control over the Dhaka underworld began to slip and Jubo League supremos, among whom were Ismail Hossain Samrat, Khaled Mahmud Bhuiyan, GK Shamim and Rana Mollah, took control of Dhaka's crime world. Earlier these four leaders used to send money to Zeesan in Dubai on a regular basis.

As the sources noted, Zeesan was enraged at the new polarisation in the crime world of Dhaka. His desperation to regain control of it became pronounced.  It was against such a background that Zeesan, in Dubai, authorised the operation to kill the four leaders, sending weapons to Dhaka for the mission to be accomplished.

Sources at police headquarters have said that detailed information related to Zeesan's criminal activities is being gathered. Police have already ascertained information about eight cases, including the killing of the DB policeman, extortion and arms cases.  Police have submitted the charge sheet against Zeesan and his four cohorts in Khilgaon thana over the 2004 DB police killing case.  However, they do not have specific information about the stage in which the case now is in the judicial process.

Information available from police headquarters speaks of eight cases against Zeesan, including three with Khilgaon thana, two with Mirpur thana, one with Motijheel and one with Sabujbag thana.

A court has already issued arrest warrants against him in two cases, including the police murder case, with Khilgaon thana, and another with Mirpur thana.

Sources at the Interpol branch at police headquarters mentioned that three accused arrested earlier have already been brought back to the country through a legal process.  Therefore, police think Zeesan could be brought back to the country soon once a similar legal process has been completed. Zeesan, as police sources say, has lived in Dubai on an Indian passport.  He also has specific ID from the Dubai government relating to his residency there. After his arrest in Dubai, attempts are reportedly being made to send him to India instead of returning him to Bangladesh.

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, at a function in the capital on Saturday told reporters that the process of bringing back Zeesan has begun.

The home minister said, "Zeesan will be brought back to the country through a legal process". He added that not only Zeesan but also all criminals who have fled the country will also be brought back and put om trial.

Who has been arrested, Zeesan or his brother Shamim?

Zeesan has opened several businesses in Dubai using huge amounts of money he amassed illegally by controlling Dhaka's underworld. His brother Shamim oversees these businesses.  A number of media reports have claimed that Zeesan has not been arrested and that in fact he is in London.

In this regard, police have said, "After arresting Zeesan Dubai police have confirmed the matter.  Several letters have been exchanged in this matter. Till now we are certain that Zeesan has been arrested".

Another detective source has stated that Zeesan was arrested from at Dubai Airport and that there is nothing confusing about the matter.