Shimul Bhuiyan: Who is the shadowy figure behind MP Azim's killing?
He had obtained a fake passport using the name Amanullah, to travel to India for the murder
The name Shimul Bhuiyan instills fear among the people of the Khulna region and continues to emerge in connection with various crimes, including murders, despite his not appearing publicly for over a decade.
On Wednesday, his name surfaced again in connection with the gruesome murder of Jhenaidah-4 MP Anwarul Azim Anar in Kolkata.
According to police sources, Shimul acted as the main hitman in the murder. However, initially, after his arrest, he was identified as Amanullah, based on the fake passport found with him.
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Later, his true identity came out along with some disturbing details.
A man of many names and many murders
Shimul Bhuiyan is the fourth son of Nasir Uddin Bhuiyan from the Damodar village, Fultala upazila, Khulna. He adopted various pseudonyms at different times to carry out his crimes.
Previously, he was known as Fazal Bhuiyan, Shihab, and Fazal Mohammad according to police records. However, after his arrest in connection with the murder of MP Azim, a new name, Syed Amanullah, was discovered.
In May 2022, a charge sheet was filed for the murder of former chairman of Fultola upazila and former organising secretary of district BNP, Sardar Alauddin Mithu, and his bodyguard Nawsher Gazi. Shimul was named as an accused in the charge sheet.
Mithu and Nawsher were killed in their office in the Notun Haat area of Fultala on the night of 25 May 2017.
Around 1990, Shimul Bhuiyan first came to public attention for his involvement in the killing of Dumuria upazila chairman Imran in Khulna. He was subsequently arrested and imprisoned from 1991 to 1997.
In 1998, his name was linked to the killing of Sardar Abul Kashem of Damodar union. After that, he was arrested again in connection with a murder case in Jashore's Abhaynagar area in 2000. Shimul Bhuiyan remained incarcerated in that case until 2013.
No one has seen him since his release from prison. However, his name has been linked to murders on multiple occasions.
Allegations suggest he orchestrated murder incidents even while in jail. He is suspected of involvement in the murder of Sardar Abu Saeed Badal, chairman of Damodar union, in 2010.
During the trial of the Badal murder case, Shimul's younger brother Mukul Bhuiyan, also known as Hatkata Mukul, was killed in a police "crossfire", local sources told TBS.
Additionally, there are 25 cases against him listed by the police.
The rise of Shimul Bhuiyan
Shimul Bhuiyan completed his SSC from Damodar MM High School in 1985. Following his HSC from Diva Naishya College, Daulatpur, Khulna, he reportedly enrolled in the Bangla Department at Rajshahi University, local sources added.
However, when contacted, the university authorities could not confirm his studentship and said he could have gained admission under a different name.
Locals said during his time in Rajshahi, Shimul frequently travelled to Jhenaidah, where he formed a friendship with Abdur Rashid Malitha, also known as Dada Tapan, the top leader of the Purba Banglar Communist Party (ML-Janajuddha).
Shimul abandoned his academic pursuits, assuming leadership responsibilities for the ultra-left party in the Khulna region. Subsequently, he and other members of his family became increasingly reckless.
Until 2010, extremists held sway over the Khulna region. According to multiple intelligence sources, Shimul was virtually unstoppable during that period. Leading extremist figures in Khulna, including Abdur Rashid Tapu, Mrinal from Dumuria, as well as Shailen and Debu, operated under Shimul's command.
Despite Shimul's absence from public view, all activities were conducted in his name.
In 2017, the Special Branch of Police prepared a list of extremists in the Khulna area and named Shimul Bhuiyan and his younger brother Shiplu Bhuiyan as regional leaders of the party.
How Shimul became Amanullah
After being arrested by the police in connection with MP Azim's murder, a passport under the name of Syed Amanullah was recovered from Shimul Bhuiyan. The passport, issued on 10 October 2019 from Dhaka, raises questions about how he obtained it.
Sources say investigators are currently probing whether his younger brother, Shiplu Bhuiyan, who was Damodar union parishad chairman at the time, assisted in obtaining the passport by creating a birth certificate under a different name.
According to police sources, Shimul Bhuiyan returned home on 15 May after murdering MP Azim in Kolkata. Later, upon his arrest from Gulshan, he admitted during initial interrogation that he had killed MP Azim.
The sources say Akhtaruzzaman Shahin, a US citizen and a friend of Azim, made a deal with Shimul for the murder. Law enforcement authorities are receiving information that Akhtaruzzaman had a dispute with Anwarul over gold smuggling and hundi business.
Shimul Bhuiyan played an important role in executing the plan to kill the lawmaker, they added.
Shimul's family's association with the ruling party
The Bhuiyan family has ties to the ruling Awami League, according to local sources.
Shiplu Bhuiyan, joined the Jubo League, pro-AL youth body, by presenting a bouquet of flowers to the then minister of state for fisheries and livestock Narayan Chandra Chand, now land minister, at the organisation's foundation anniversary rally in Fultola upazila on 11 November 2014.
Reportedly, Fultola upazila Awami League president and upazila chairman, Sheikh Akram Hossain, facilitated his entry into the Jubo League.
Shiplu secured the Awami League's nomination for the Damodar union chairman elections held in March 2016, and won. Sheikh Akram Hossain allegedly played a significant role in his victory. In 2021, he ran as the Awami League candidate again and emerged victorious.
Additionally, Shimul Bhuiya's wife, Sabina Yasmin Mukta, is a member of Ward-5 of Khulna Zilla Parishad. There are allegations that local Awami League leaders nominated her and ensured her victory.
Local residents say although Shimul Bhuiyan was never seen in public, he maintained close contact with the family.
Contacted, Sheikh Akram Hossain said, "At that time, 400 to 500 people, including Shiplu, joined the party. They were brought into the Awami League to strengthen the party. I recruited them with Narayan Chandra Chand on the same stage.
"In 2016, Shiplu contested the Damodar union election as a candidate for the boat symbol. He won because I supported him. It is my responsibility to work for the boat candidate."
"Currently," he added, "I have no involvement with the Bhuiyan family."
He further said, "Currently, there are two factions of Awami League in Fultala. One is mine, and the other is led by Narayan Chandra Chand. The Bhuiyan family, known for their criminal activities, is currently aligned with the minister's faction."
But Naryan Chandra Chand told TBS that Akram facilitated Shiplu's entry into the party.
In the aftermath of Shimul Bhuiyan's arrest, Shiplu and other family members are also on the run. No one was found at their house in Damodar village yesterday afternoon, and their phones were switched off.
According to intelligence sources, after Shimul's arrest, police officials raided his village home and arrested his wife, Sabina Yasmin Mukta, and elder brother Lucky Bhuiyan's son Tanveer.
