‘Top criminal’ Sarwar Hossain alias Babla, 43, was shot dead Wednesday evening while joining an election campaign of BNP-nominated candidate for Chittagong-8 (Chandgaon–Boalkhali) constituency, Ershad Ullah, who was also shot.
Doctors at Evercare Hospital declared Sarwar dead around 6:30pm. Ershad Ullah is receiving treatment, said Chandgaon Police Station Officer-in-Charge Zahedul Kabir.
Police said Sarwar, a top-listed criminal under Chittagong Metropolitan Police, was released on bail after August 5 and faced 16 cases, including murder, arms, and extortion. He lived in Chandgaon.
On March 29, gunmen attacked Sarwar’s private car on Bakalia Access Road, killing two associates — Bakhtiar Hossain Manik, 30, and Md Abdullah, 36 — while Sarwar and two aides, Robin and Hridoy, were injured. Since then, police had lost track of him, though locals claimed he had political backing. BNP said he was not affiliated with the party. Hundreds joined Wednesday’s campaign, where the shooting occurred.
Police said the attack stemmed from a turf war with rival gangster Sajjad Hossain alias Chhoto Sajjad. Earlier that afternoon, Sarwar joined Ershad Ullah’s campaign in Chalitataly, where he, Ershad, and a man named Shanto were shot.
Chhoto Sajjad is reportedly a follower of fugitive Shibir cadre Sajjad Ali, known as Boro Sajjad. Sarwar was once part of the same network but split around 2015. Sajjad Ali fled abroad after being acquitted by the High Court in a 2000 terrorist attack case that killed eight people, including six Chhatra League activists. From abroad, he continues criminal operations through Chhoto Sajjad in Bayezid, Panchlaish, Chandgaon, and Hathazari.
Local sources said Sarwar married a month ago, with several BNP leaders, including Ershad Ullah, attending. He had appeared at BNP rallies since his bail release last August.
BNP Standing Committee member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury said that the BNP had no connection with the incident. “Hundreds of people were present when the BNP candidate was conducting public outreach. Sarwar participated there and was shot due to a pre-existing conflict between two terrorist groups. Our candidate Ershad Ullah was also shot. He is undergoing treatment,” he added.
Deputy Commissioner (North) of Chittagong Metropolitan Police Amirul Islam said: “Ershad Ullah was shot and admitted to hospital. In this incident, terrorist Sarwar was killed.”
When asked who fired the shots, BNP city convening committee member Mahbub Rana told Dhaka Tribune: “It could be people from the rival side. We are not sure yet. Our party candidate is receiving treatment at Evercare Hospital. Doctors have said he is out of danger. Meanwhile, Sarwar Babla was killed.”
