Police yet to crack high-profile Titon murder
The fatal shooting of alleged underworld figure Khandaker Naeem Ahmed Titon in Dhaka’s busy New Market area has intensified concerns over organised crime and the effectiveness of law enforcement in tackling high-profile killings. More than two weeks after the incident, investigators have yet to identify or arrest the main perpetrators, prompting growing public scrutiny over the progress of the case.
At a press briefing at the DMP Media Centre on Tuesday, Additional Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Detective Branch (DB) Md. Shafiqul Islam said those involved in the killing had been brought “within the frame” of the investigation.
“The Titon murder is a case under investigation. In the interest of the investigation, I do not wish to disclose the location of the accused. We are trying and moving forward with a specific target,” he told reporters.
According to sources connected to the investigation, two motorcycle-borne gunmen reportedly remained in the Nilkhet-New Market area for nearly two hours before the attack on April 28. The assailants allegedly opened fire on Titon at around 7:54pm and escaped within four minutes.
Investigators believe the escape route had been pre-planned, with the attackers allegedly fleeing through the BGB gate via the Rayerbazar embankment towards Keraniganj. Questions have since emerged over why security measures were unable to intercept the suspects in one of the capital’s busiest areas.
DB officials said Titon had not been carrying a mobile phone at the time of the attack, complicating efforts to trace his movements digitally. Investigators are examining whether he may have been lured to the location by someone known to him.
Titon, once a prominent figure in Dhaka’s criminal networks during the 1990s, was released on bail on August 12, 2024, after serving around 20 years in prison. Sources familiar with the investigation claim he later became associated with the circle of alleged underworld figure Imamul Hasan, widely known as Picchi Helal.
Law enforcement officials believe longstanding rivalries over extortion, drugs, internet service provider businesses and cable television operations may have contributed to the conflict.
Particular attention has focused on reported tensions between Titon and another alleged criminal figure, Sanjidaul Islam Emon, over influence in the Mohammadpur and Hazaribagh areas. Emon is believed to be either abroad or in hiding, while allegedly continuing to control criminal activities through associates.
Investigators are examining similarities between Titon’s killing and previous targeted shootings in Dhaka, including the murder of Tariq Saeed Mamun in Old Dhaka and BNP leader Sadhan in Badda. In each case, attackers reportedly arrived on motorcycles, carried out close-range shootings and escaped through predetermined routes.
Following the killing, allegations and counter-allegations have surfaced between rival groups.
Titon’s elder brother, Khandaker Saeed Akhtar Ripon, has publicly accused Picchi Helal of orchestrating the murder in connection with disputes over control of upcoming Qurbani cattle markets.
“After the murder, Helal is trying to steer the matter in a different direction by spreading a staged audio recording. This is a dirty trick to mislead the investigation,” Ripon alleged, while also seeking the intervention of the Prime Minister.
Picchi Helal, who is reportedly in hiding, has denied involvement. He claimed there was no dispute between him and Titon and instead alleged that family and business tensions involving Titon’s brother-in-law Emon may have been linked to the killing.
Police have not publicly confirmed any direct evidence supporting either claim.
Family members and observers have raised concerns over what they describe as slow progress in the investigation. Ripon claimed that about a week before the incident, Titon had informed him that he had been called for a “settlement” meeting with rivals and believed tensions would be resolved. Investigators are reportedly examining phone records and digital communications connected to that claim.
Questions have also been raised over coordination between local police and the Detective Branch. Despite CCTV footage from the area, no arrests have yet been announced.
The killing has renewed debate over organised crime in Dhaka, particularly as several previously convicted criminal figures have recently been released from prison or are believed to be operating networks from abroad.
Security analysts warn that unresolved rivalries surrounding extortion and cattle markets ahead of Qurbani Eid could trigger further violence in areas such as Bashila and Gabtoli if the perpetrators are not swiftly identified.
For now, the Titon case remains under active investigation, while public attention continues to focus on whether law enforcement can bring those responsible to justice.
