Three Brothers, Including 'Four Star Group' Kingpin Mehedi, Arrested in Mirpur
Police have arrested Mehedi Hasan, alias Joy — described as the kingpin of the 'Four Star Group' — and his two brothers in Dhaka's Mirpur on allegations of extortion, controlling the jhut (garment waste) trade, grabbing flats and plots, and running a teenage gang.
The arrested men are Md Mehedi Hasan, alias Joy (39), Sanjim Hasan (27) and Md Amit Hasan (28). All three are brothers.
They were arrested in a special drive on Thursday (22 October). The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) media wing released the information on Thursday night.
Police say the arrested men are nephews of Mofizur Rahman Mamun, Moshiur Rahman and Jamilur Rahman, alias Jamil, who are known as top criminals of Mirpur.
Police claim Mehedi Hasan, alias Joy, collected extortion money in the area on the instructions of top criminal Mamun. He is also alleged to have been involved in seizing and controlling the jhut trade, grabbing flats and plots, controlling footpaths and running a teenage gang.
Preliminary interrogation has found that the extorted money was sent through mobile phones and various banking channels to Mamun, Moshiur and Jamil, who are fugitives abroad, police said.
Sanjim Hasan is accused of running a teenage gang using the name of that criminal group. He also faces allegations of spreading criminal influence in Ward 91 of Dhaka South City Corporation.
Police said preliminary interrogation found evidence in the arrested men's mobile phones of regular contact with the fugitive criminals abroad. That contact trail is what brought the money transfers to light.
A case has been filed against the three brothers with Mirpur Model Police Station under the Anti-Terrorism Act. The next legal steps will proceed on the basis of that case.
There had long been complaints of extortion and control of footpaths and the jhut trade in the Mirpur area. With the alleged kingpin and two others of the 'Four Star Group' now arrested, many in the area are expressing relief.
The alleged masterminds abroad, however, remain beyond reach. If the allegation of sending them money is proven, the scope of the case could widen further.
What remains to be seen is whether interrogation produces the names of more members or associates of this network, and how far the extortion network in Mirpur can be dismantled.
