Bangladesh Army has arrested four individuals, including top-listed terrorist Subrata Bain and his close associate Molla Masud, during coordinated operations in Kushtia and Dhaka districts on Tuesday.
The arrestees were identified as Subrata Bain alias Fateh Ali, his close aide Molla Masud alias Abu Rasel Masud, and two of their armed associates—shooter Arafat and Sharif, according to Inter Services Public Relation Directorate (ISPR).
ISPR said the operation began with a raid at a house in Kushtia city where Subrata Bain and Molla Masud were captured. Based on intelligence gathered from their interrogation, army personnel later apprehended Arafat and Sharif from the Hatirjheel area of Dhaka.
According to ISPR, the operation was conducted this morning based on specific intelligence information. Thanks to the efficiency of the operation team, it was successfully carried out without any casualties or sabotage, and the criminals were
apprehended.
During the raid, the army recovered five foreign pistols, 10 magazines, 53 rounds of ammunition, and a satellite phone.
Various formations of the Bangladesh Army, multiple national intelligence agencies, and the Bangladesh Police played a leading role in the successful execution of the operation, ISPR added.
On Tuesday, Bangladesh Army carried out a high-risk three-hour raid from 5:00am to 8:00am at a house near Sonar Bangla Mosque in the Kalishankarpur area of Kushtia, successfully capturing the suspects.
Subrata Bain and Molla Masud are leaders of the Seven Star terrorist group and are among the ‘23 top terrorists on the list.’
Subrata Bain rose to infamy in the 1990s as a feared crime boss in Dhaka. He was heavily involved in extortion, tender manipulation, and gang warfare—activities that frequently led to violent clashes and multiple killings.
According to multiple sources within the law enforcement agencies, Bain began his criminal career in the 1990s in the Moghbazar area, centering his operations around a shopping complex known as Vishal Center, where he initially worked at a restaurant named Changpai. Over time, Bishal Center became his criminal headquarters, earning him the nickname “Bishaler Subrata” (Subrata of Bishal).
On December 25, 2001, the then BNP-Jamaat government listed 23 top terrorists, with Subrata Bain among them. Interpol still has a red notice issued in his name, listing his age as 55. The Ministry of Home Affairs had previously announced a reward for information leading to his capture.
Molla Masud, who was reportedly arrested in India in 2015, was later released on bail and continued to live there, according to intelligence sources. He was known for his criminal activities in Dhaka’s Motijheel and Gopibagh areas and is said to have entered the underworld under the guidance of Subrata Bain.
Masud was not seen in Bangladesh after 2003. In India, he lived under the alias Abu Rasel Md. Masud and married an Indian citizen named Rizia Sultana. He had established residence there.
Police sources report that Masud faces several major criminal cases, including the murder of Mamun, nephew of former MP Kamal Majumder, the killing of "Murgi Milon" in Old Dhaka, and a triple murder in Tilpapara, Khilgaon. He also has numerous extortion-related complaints filed against him. He was also named in the 2001 government list of 23 most wanted criminals.
At around 9:00AM Tuesday, when reporters visited the house in Kalishankarpur, residents and locals confirmed that the army had conducted a prolonged three-hour operation.
The neighborhood is known for rental accommodations for students. The house where the raid took place is owned by Mir Mahiuddin, as indicated by a city corporation signboard. The second and third floors house 18 university and college students.
According to some of these students, a local resident from the house behind had rented the ground floor two months ago. Around 12–15 days ago, he left a guest there who remained mostly unseen except during meals.
The students said that around 5:00am, five to six army vehicles, including a black microbus, arrived. About 20–30 army personnel broke the lock and went upstairs. All residents were confined to one room on each floor.
One officer assured them, “You have nothing to worry about. Just stay calm. This is a raid.” The officers were reportedly polite and asked if a bearded man stayed there.
After about three hours, a bearded man was seen being handcuffed and led into the black microbus with a towel wrapped around his head. Another youth was tied with rope.
When a student curiously asked who they were taking, an army officer replied, “You’d be scared if we told you now—watch the news later.”
When reporters visited the back house based on the students’ tip, the door was found locked from the inside, and no one responded despite multiple attempts to communicate.
Subrata Bain is widely regarded as one of Bangladesh’s most notorious criminal gang leaders. He has over 30 murder cases against him in Dhaka alone and was the head of the feared “Seven Star Group” until 2003.
His rise began with the 1991 murder of JASAD student leader Murad in Agargaon. He is a convict serving a life sentence.
To evade arrest, Bain fled to India in 2003 where he settled permanently. He established a business in West Bengal, bought land, and built a house.
