Who will lead criminal gang Seven Star Group?

A notoriously dangerous underworld gang active since the 90’s, the Seven Star Group has been left leaderless following the death of ringleader Tanvir Ahmed Anik in a gunfight, putting forward the question- who will lead next?

On the morning of June 20, the 36-year old gang leader died in a so called gunfight with Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) in Dhaka.

According to RAB 2 Commanding Officer Lt Col Ashique Billah, the Seven Star Gang had been engaging in extortion rackets and murders in Agargaon and Mohammadpur areas of the capital under Anik’s leadership.

Losing the top leadership is nothing new for the criminal gang, as it has lost many leaders to infighting, turf wars, and encounters with the law. 

Looking back at the criminal gang’s history, its first ringleader Subrato Bain has been serving time at Alipur Jail in Calcutta. His right hand man Molla Masud is incarcerated at a West Bengal jail.

There are allegations that Subrato still runs his underworld gang from inside the Indian jail, but the Seven Star Group is presently in a state of disarray.

The once formidable gang is now disorganised, as many members have been killed in turf wars and gunfights with law enforcers. Some veteran members were arrested and incarcerated in different jails, and some are still at large.

Where are they now?

One of the most infamous Seven Star Group gangsters, Humayun kabir Milan (alias Murgi Milan) was murdered by opposing gang members of the Five Star Group at Old Dhaka’s judge court area in May 18, 2000.

Reports indicate that Picchi Hannan, Kala Jahangir and Dakat Shohid of the Five Star Group were directly involved in Milan’s killing. 

In 2001, another Seven Star member Tikka was killed in a shootout with the Detective Branch, while Moshiur Rahman Kochi is currently free by order of the court, after his arrest in 2005.

Listed by the police as one of the top criminals of 1990s in Bangladesh, Tofayel Ahmed Joseph has been quietly released from incarceration in 2018, after a presidential clemency cut his life sentence short.

Gang member Tanvirul Islam Joy has been reported traveling through Malaysia and Canada.

What’s next for Seven Star?

The Seven Star Group still has numerous active members. During the recent alleged gunfight in Dhaka, Anik and his 5-6 cohorts tried to stand their ground and opened fire on RAB forces with two revolvers.

As Anik lay injured on the ground, his associates escaped. RAB sources said a search is on to track down other members of the Seven Star Group.

The future of the criminal gang is anybody’s guess now. The police are working to mop up the remaining members of the group. However, surviving gang members could elect a new leader from among their ranks, ushering in a new reign of terror in the capital.