Who was Mamun, shot dead in Old Dhaka?
Tarik Saif Mamun, 55, a resident of Lakshmipur Sadar upazila, was shot dead in front of the gate of Dhaka National Medical College Hospital in Old Dhaka this morning (10 November).
According to police, Mamun was a "top-listed criminal" and a leader of Emon-Mamun group.
He was scheduled to appear at a case hearing today, said Mallik Ahsan Uddin Sami, deputy commissioner of the Lalbagh Division of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP).
According to police information, the Dhaka underground terrorist group Emon-Mamun is involved in the murder of Dhallywood hero Sohel Chowdhury and the murder of former Army chief general (retd) Aziz Ahmed's brother Tipu Ahmed. Emon of this group is currently absconding. Mamun went to appear in the case today.
Another police source corroborated the fact that Mamun was accused in the Sohel Chowdhury murder case.
However, Mamun's cousin Hafiz said, "My cousin was an ordinary man. I have no idea who killed him or why. He was not involved in any political activities."
Mamun appeared in court in a 1997 murder case
According to police records, the case Mamun had appeared in court in a murder case filed over the killing of a youth named Jahid Amin Himel in 1997. On the night of 25 February that year, 25-year-old Jahid Amin was shot dead in the PC Culture Housing area of Mohammadpur. Himel's friend Saeed was also injured in the incident.
Himel's mother, Zafrun Nahar, filed a case naming seven people including Mamun.
After investigation, police charged Mamun and six others — Osman, Masud alias Nazmul Hossain, Ratan, Imon, and Helal — in a charge sheet submitted on 17 September 1997.
Today, the court of Dhaka's Speedy Trial Tribunal-2, presided over by Judge Mominun Nesar, was scheduled to record witness testimony in the case. While Mamun appeared in court, no witnesses were present, prompting the court to set 4 February next year as the next date for testimony.
After the hearing, Mamun left the court and went toward Dhaka National Medical College Hospital, where he was shot multiple times from behind.
Mamun's lawyer Mehedi Hasan confirmed that his client had appeared in court in the case this morning.
"The case is from 1997, and witnesses are not appearing. We requested the court to conclude the trial, and a new date was set," he said.
Asked why Mamun had gone to the hospital, the lawyer replied, "I cannot say. I left because I had another case. He also left the court. I do not know anything beyond that."
Mamun had been released on bail in 2023 after serving more than 20 years in prison for the murder of film actor Sohel Chowdhury.
On 9 May last year, the tribunal acquitted six accused, including Mamun, in the Sohel Chowdhury murder case as the charges against them could not be proven.
However, the same tribunal sentenced three others — including businessman Aziz Mohammad Bhai alias Abdul Aziz — to life term imprisonment.