Police have confirmed that the man shot dead in Old Dhaka on Monday morning was Tariq Saif Mamun, 55, a notorious underworld figure long associated with organised crime and multiple high-profile murders in the capital.
The incident took place at around 10:30am in front of the National Medical College, sending shockwaves through the usually busy area.
Witnesses reported hearing a sudden burst of gunfire and seeing the victim collapse on the pavement. Police officers responding to the scene said Mamun was struck by several bullets at close range.
An identity card found in his pocket led to his identification.
Officers later verified that the deceased was indeed the same Mamun who had been a named suspect in the 2018 murder of Sayeed Ahmed Tipu, the brother of film actor Sohel Chowdhury and former Army Chief General Aziz Ahmed.
Mamun had a long history of violent crime and was widely known in criminal circles for his role in the “Emon-Mamun gang”, a feared syndicate that operated across Dhanmondi, Mohammadpur and Tejgaon. The group was involved in contract killings, extortion, and territorial disputes over control of illicit businesses in Dhaka.
In September 2023, Mamun narrowly escaped a targeted shooting in Tejgaon Industrial Area, believed to have been orchestrated by rivals linked to Sanjidul Islam alias Emon, who is currently imprisoned. During that attack, stray bullets hit a motorcyclist named Bhuban Chandra Shil, who later succumbed to his injuries at a private hospital in Dhanmondi.
Despite being implicated in several serious offences, Mamun had been released on bail only a few months ago after protracted legal proceedings. Law enforcement officials had previously expressed concern that his release could reignite old rivalries among Dhaka’s criminal networks.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (DMP) Mallik Ahsan Uddin Sami confirmed the victim’s identity and said legal measures were being taken. “We have initiated a full investigation into the shooting. The attackers appear to have been well-prepared and escaped immediately after the incident,” he told reporters.
Sub-Inspector Md Yasin of Kotwali Police Station, one of the first officers to arrive at the scene, said, “The victim was found with multiple gunshot wounds. No firearm or sharp weapon was recovered from the vicinity.”
The body has been sent to Dhaka Medical College Hospital for post-mortem examination. Police have cordoned off the area and are reviewing CCTV footage to trace the shooters’ movements.
According to investigators, the murder may have been a revenge attack linked to long-standing gang rivalries or disputes over financial dealings within Dhaka’s underworld. Detectives from the DMP’s Detective Branch (DB) have taken over the investigation and are interrogating several known associates of the deceased.
A senior police official described the killing as “a calculated execution”, reflecting the enduring influence of Dhaka’s old crime networks despite ongoing crackdowns.