Broad-daylight gun attack kills gangster in Old Dhaka
Tariq Saif Mamun was scheduled to appear at a case hearing today, says an official.
In a dramatic daylight attack in Old Dhaka, Tarik Saif Mamun, 55, known as a top-listed criminal, was shot dead in front of Dhaka National Medical College Hospital around 11am today (10 November). The killing is believed to stem from longstanding gang rivalries in the city.
Eyewitnesses mention and CCTV footage show a cinematic-style shooting: two masked men on a red motorcycle targeted Mamun as he exited the hospital at 10:51am, firing six rounds in three seconds.
To ensure his death, they fired additional shots as Mamun attempted to flee back inside the hospital gate. Both assailants, wearing caps and masks and carrying pistols, chased him before fleeing toward Kabi Nazrul College. The gunfire sent nearby residents into a panic.
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Hospital wardmaster Mohibullah said, "Around 11am, gunfire erupted in front of the hospital. When people arrived, Mamun was lying bloodied on the street. He was first taken to Dhaka National Medical College but was later shifted to Dhaka Medical College (DMCH) emergency, where doctors declared him dead."
Mamun's family said he had been staying in Badda and was due in court yesterday morning for a case hearing. His wife, Bilkis Akter, told reporters she suspected associates of rival gangster Sanjidul Islam Emon were behind the attack.
Mamun had been released from prison two years ago after serving 20 years for his involvement in the murder of actor Sohel Chowdhury. His nephew, Mashruf, said Mamun had survived multiple assassination attempts by Emon's men, including a 2023 attack outside BG Press in Tejgaon that killed lawyer Bhuvan Chandra Sheel.
According to police records, Mamun is also involved in a separate murder case dating back to 1997. The case concerns the killing of 25-year-old Jahid Amin Himel on the night of 25 February in the PC Culture Housing area of Mohammadpur. Himel's friend Saeed was also injured in the incident. Himel's mother, Zafrun Nahar, filed the 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, Dhaka's Speedy Trial Tribunal-2, presided over by Judge Mominun Nesar, was scheduled to record witness testimony. While Mamun appeared in court, no witnesses were present, prompting the tribunal to set 4 February next year as the next date for testimony.
Police identified Mamun to be a former ally of Emon. Once partners in crime, the duo ruled over key Dhaka areas—including Hazaribagh, Dhanmondi, Mohammadpur, and Tejgaon—through the "Emon-Mamun" gang, and were implicated in high-profile cases, including the murder of Sayed Ahmed Tipu, brother of former army chief Aziz Ahmed.
Their attempt to expand their turf sparked a bitter fallout, turning former allies into fierce rivals, each vying to seize control of territories they once dominated together.
Deputy Commissioner of Lalbagh Division, Malik Ahsan Uddin Sami, confirmed Mamun's criminal background: "He was a top criminal. He had been part of the Emon-Mamun gang and was previously allied with Sanjidul Islam Emon. Investigations are ongoing to identify the perpetrators."
According to police, Mamun's father was SM Iqbal, and the family hails from Mobarak Colony, Lakshmipur Sadar. Mamun was reportedly involved in the trade of raw materials and ran multiple supply operations across Dhaka.
