From cricketer to crime figure: David Emon sent to jail in four cases
He was arrested yesterday at the Jhikargachha border area in Jashore.
A Chattogram court today (30 July) ordered Mubarak Hossain Emon, alias David Emon, sent to jail after showing him arrested in four cases – three under Fatikchhari Police Station in Chattogram district and one under Bayezid Bostami Police Station in the city.
Additional Superintendent of Police Kazi Md Tarek Aziz said police will seek a remand on Sunday in two arms cases and the Jamal murder case – in which Emon's alleged involvement was established through a statement recorded under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
Just a day earlier, a joint operation by Chattogram and Jashore district police had ended weeks of pursuit. Detectives tracked Emon after he left Chattogram for Dhaka, setting up checkpoints at Daudkandi in Cumilla, the Padma Bridge toll plaza, Rupsha in Khulna and other strategic locations.
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Despite repeatedly changing routes and travelling through Gopalganj into Narail, Emon and three associates were arrested in Jhumjhumpur, Jashore, early Wednesday.
Police also claimed to have recovered an Indian Aadhaar card from Emon, alleging he had obtained it to conceal his identity while fleeing to India through the Jashore border. The card carried the name "Azhar Khan" and the date of birth 12 May 1998.
However, a The Business Standard verification found it to be an edited demo card, not a valid Indian identity document. The printed Aadhaar number – 123456789012 – is a widely used demo number with no link to any real citizen.
Long before he became known as David Emon, he had a promising cricket career. A rare left-arm chinaman spinner, he was once considered one of Chattogram's brightest young prospects – a career that eventually gave way to involvement in the criminal underworld.
A career cut short
Locals say Emon showed promise as a cricketer from an early age. After playing local cricket, he joined Chattogram Brothers Cricket Academy and trained regularly at Bakalia Stadium and Kazir Deuri Ground.
As one of the country's few left-arm chinaman spinners, he quickly stood out. Coaches say he even modelled his bowling on Indian spinner Kuldeep Yadav.
"He joined us around 2016 or 2017. There are very few Chinaman spinners of this type in Bangladesh, so he was easy to remember. He had genuine potential," academy coach Masum Dola told The Business Standard.
According to Masum, Emon trained consistently until the Covid-19 pandemic and was ready for league cricket. But after the prolonged shutdown, he never returned.
"Many players leave because of personal or family reasons. We don't know what happened in his case. But it's heartbreaking. A boy who could have made a shining cricket career is now known as a gangster," he said.
Another coach, Aminul Haque, remembered Emon as quiet, disciplined and regular at training before the pandemic. The coaches only realised their former trainee was "David Emon" after the name surfaced in media reports.
Accused in 34 cases
Law enforcers say Emon gradually entered the criminal underworld after leaving cricket. His name gained prominence in Chattogram's crime circles after 5 August 2024, when intelligence agencies began linking him to the group of fugitive criminal Sazzad Ali Khan, alias Boro Sazzad.
Speaking at a press briefing today, Chattogram Superintendent of Police Md Masud Alam said Emon faces 34 cases – 13 under Chattogram District Police, including seven for murder, and another 21 under Chattogram Metropolitan Police, including 11 to 12 murder cases. Investigators will question him on remand about the source of weapons, his associates, funding and other alleged crimes, he said.
A senior Chattogram Metropolitan Police inspector, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Business Standard Emon started as a lower-tier member of Sarwar Babla's group. As internal conflicts, arrests and leadership gaps weakened the network, his role expanded.
Police say the group operated from a stronghold in Chattogram's Kanchannagar area and that Emon took on greater responsibility after the arrest of Choto Sazzad left the network short of field-level operatives.
RAB-7 Commander Lt Col Hafizur Rahman, however, said claims linking Emon to Boro Sazzad should be treated cautiously, noting that Sazzad has lived abroad for years, it is difficult to view him as directing crimes inside Bangladesh.
