Union parishad (UP) Member Shamsher Ali Khan alias Daku Shamsher has “unleased a reign of terror” in a slum of Narayanganj’s Rupganj upazila – the Chongpara Slum, which has long been a safe haven for criminals, allegedly with the blessing of politically influential Amdadul Haque, the APS of textiles and jute Minister Golam Dastagir Gazi.

Shamsher, member of ward no. 9 of Kayetpara union parishad, has been committing various crimes, including murder, robbery, mugging and drug trade in the area, according to sources.

Locals say after the death of former UP member Bazlur Rahman Bazlu, Shamsher-led gang has taken control over the slum.

Turning the slum into a hotspot of drug and firearms trade, Shamsher has amassed wealth worth crores of taka.

APS Amdad is giving shelter to the top terror in exchange for a handsome amount of commission monthly while the APS mainly manages local administration, sources say.

According to some local drug traders, if they do not pay commission for the drug trade to Amdad within the first day of a month, the local administration become active to carry out raids against them.

Amdad being the APS of Gazi for the last 15 years has made a fortune with properties in Narayanganj, Dhaka and some other parts of the country. He also controls the jhut trade with the factories in Rupganj using his own cadres.

Vagabond Hasmat Ali Shamsher, 38, formed a gang with tokais (street boys) at the age of 9-10. He, at first, stole and worked a carrier of different drugs. At the age of 13, he was arrested by police with drugs in his possession.

After that, Shamsher began working as a source of the law enforcers. In 2007, he became very dangerous after killing a police constable whose body was found in the Shitalakhya River. To survive the murder case, he joined politics with former member Bazlur Rahman in 2008.

In 2013, he managed to become the general secretary of Kayetpara Unit of Swechasebak League.

In 2017, Shahsher along with his cohorts Joynal, Shahin, Raza and Anwar murdered MA Hasan alias Hasan Muhuri, the husband of female UP member Beauty Akhter Kuttri, who once controlled Chonpara. After two years, Kuttri was also killed.

After her death, Bazlur Rahman took control over the slum. After Bazlu’s death on 31 March 2023, Shamsher Group, Raihan Group, Joynal Group, Yasin Group and Shahbuddin Group became desperate to take control over the slum. But it was Shamsher, who managed to take control over the slum leaving other groups behind on 12 June this year.

Drug trade by Shamsher-led gang

There are now about 200 drug dealers in the slum. They sell different drugs and the amount of money generated by the drug sales stands at about Tk2.5 crore to Tk3 crore every month.

The slum, where some 80,000 dwellers live, is a safe route for drug transaction to the capital.

Even, addicts from Rupganj, Siddhirganj, Demra, Sarulia, Jatrabari, Banasree, Khilgaon, Sabujbagh and Rampura visit to the place for taking drugs.

Some dishonest officers of the police and others take commission from the criminals led by Shamsher. Khadiza Begum, the second wife of Shamsher, is now reportedly running the largest drug spot in the slum. The drug spot is adjacent to the Naba Khishaloya School and College.  Drugs including heroin, ganja, yaba, phensedyl are being sold there every day. Approximately some Tk 10lakh worth of drugs are sold from the spot per day.

Hiding identity and posing a drug dealer, this correspondent talked to a drug peddler who informed him that there was an arrangement of consuming drugs, along with arrangement of home delivery.

Visited the Shahida’s spot at block no 9, it was seen that drugs are being sold openly around 1:45pm. This particular spot sells drugs worth Tk6-7 lakh every day. At the Millat and Chakku’s spots around 3:00pm, it was seen that narcotics items are being sold like hot cakes.

10 criminal cases against Shamsher

At least 10 cases were filed against Shamsher from 2019 to 2022. The cases include murder, arms, explosives, robberies, looting and other charges. On 11 June, 2013, Shamsher was indicted in a case filed for hurting religious sentiment.

On 15 September, 2014,  a case was filed against him with Rupganj Police Station for opposing the government officers and employees from doing their duties.

In 2015, four cases were lodged against him. Of those, on 19 March, a robbery case was filed with the police station after he was arrested red-handed.

Shamsher was accused in the murder of Kuttri on 26 June 26.

Shamser, in 2016, killed drug dealer Khorshed Alam, who used to be his mentor in early days of entering the crime world.

On the day of killing, Khorshed Alam was called from home by Mustafa, Arab Ali, Bajlu and Sahab Uddin. The terrorists hacked him that night. Khorshed died the next day at 6:30 am while undergoing treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

Locals say that Khorshed suddenly got better even though he was a drug dealer. Then he started the cloth business. At one point, Khorsed was killed by his disciple Shamser.

Shamser and his forces tortured an 8-month pregnant woman named Sumaiya Akhtar (20) on 8 December, focusing on the expansion of dominance in Chanpara. In this incident, the housewife’s father-in-law Aolad Hossain filed a complaint against Shamser with the Rupganj police.

Sources say Awlad was having a dispute with Shamser Ali about various issues. As a result of this dispute, under the leadership of Shamser alias Daku Shamser, Ali, Helal, Apan, Minara, Shahabuddin and unknown 10 to 12 armed with indigenous weapons started attacking and vandalising the house of Awlad Hossain.

When Awlad’s daughter Sumaiya Akhter, who was 8 months pregnant, resisted, the terrorists took her out by the hair and beat her mercilessly. At that time, Awlad’s wife Selina (45) came forward to save her only to be brutally beaten by the terrorists.

The terrorists ransacked the house and looted Tk25,000 in cash and Tk3 lakh worth of furniture. Later the locals rescued them and admitted them to the Upazila Health Complex. In this context, Narayanganj District SP Golam Mostafa Russell told reporters that all terrorists, whoever they are, must be held accountable.

 “We are arresting all terrorists, who were famous in Chanpara and bringing them under the law. if we get any specific information against the cohorts of Shamsher, we will arrest them,” he said.