Shakil came to Dhaka to take over the underworld: RAB

Top criminal Mazharul Islam Shakil, who returned from Dubai in January this year, made plans to take over Dhaka's underworld following the recent crackdown on casinos, said the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB).

The RAB arrested Shakil alias Shakil Mazhar with pistols and bullets from the capitals' Mohammadpur area on Saturday.

"Shakil is an associate of one of the Interpol's most wanted criminals Ali Akbar Chowdhury alias Zeesan," RAB Media Wing's Director and Intelligence Chief Sarwar Bin Kashem told journalists at the RAB Media Centre on the same day.

According to RAB sources, Shakil returned with a plan to re-launch his criminal activities in Bangladesh with the guidance and assistance from top criminal Zeesan. 

The RAB official further said that Shakil was admitted to a government hospital in the capital. The purpose of the admission was to spread panic among the people by causing an untoward incident at the hospital.

He continued, "Shakil left Bangladesh for China four days after being accused in the assassination of the then Jubo league leader Rajiv in June 2016. He was living in China until 2017, and used to work in a cargo service. 

"In 2018, he travelled to the United Arab Emirates from China and had been living in Dubai until January this year. Shakil met Zeesan there."

Responding to a question on whether the top criminal Zeesan was arrested or not in Dubai, Sarwar bin Kashem said, "We have learned through Interpol that Zeesan has been arrested. A process is underway to bring him back to Bangladesh."

Meanwhile, Shakil's family has claimed that RAB took him away from the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) around 11:30pm on February 20, and two days later he was shown arrested with firearms and ammunition.

His cousin Fahim Mahmud told The Business Standard that Shakil had been living in Dubai for last five years. 

"Shakil came to Dhaka 15 days ago. He was getting treatment at the BSMMU for a heart disease and was accompanied by another person named Shawon. RAB members picked up the duo on Thursday," said Fahim Mahmud.

Zeesan rose to prominence in the country's underworld scene, especially in Badda, Gulshan, and Khilgaon areas after 1999. 

On May 14, 2003, two police officers were killed during an operation to arrest Zeesan in Malibagh area, after his cohorts fired on law enforcers. 

Zeesan left Bangladesh in 2007, first to India and then to Dubai.