Police could not enter area without joint forces
Kantabil, which is in Cumilla city, was a area where criminals had once enjoyed virtually unchecked control; there was an organised network for trafficking drugs set up there and armed demonstrations by criminals had become a regular thing. The situation had become so serious that the police were forced to go into Kantabil with some of the joint forces.
A very influential person in the field was Abu Hanif Apu, whose name became known as a result of an event which took place two months ago. On June 24th a student was shot in the western part of Kantabil School and during the inquiry into the incident the police discovered that Apu's name was connected with it.
Law enforcement sources say that the police had come under armed attacks while carrying out their operations in Kantabil even prior to the shooting of the school student; the area was seen as being very dangerous for police officers.
The inspector, Tapas Chandra Roy of the Chawk Bazar Police Outpost in Cumilla, who is currently looking into the case brought against Apu under the Arms Act after Apu's arrest, said to Asia Post: "We were unable to enter Kantabil without the help of the joint forces. Apu by himself had been holding the entire population of Kantabil hostage. He used to kill the cattle and then fed the people, giving them whatever they asked for. It was because of this that his network was able to grow in the area."
Apu’s Reach Extended From Drug Trade to Land Grabbing
According to an investigation carried out by Asia Post, Lilu Sardar Bari in Kantabil is known locally as "Kasai Bari", and Abu Hanif Apu, who is the son of the late Shahjahan Mia, comes from that area.
A large drug trafficking network was set up throughout Cumilla city while he was in charge. Many sub-dealers were appointed to look after drug sales in various areas. In order to keep his position of power, Apu formed an armed group made up of between 200 and 300 members.
According to local sources, Apu gave his three wives the responsibility of managing drug network activities in three different areas; one of them operates in Tetui Para of Adarsha Sadar upazila, another is based in the Sambakshi area of Ward No. 26 of the city, and the third one works in Jaru Chairman Goli of Ward No. 18.
He has also been accused of engaging in land grabbing and of making people give up their properties for prices below the market rate.
It is said that around 2023 the residential property of Zakir Mia, son of the late Siddiq Mia, Chairman of Goli in Ward No. 18, which amounted to nearly two gonda—that is, four decimals or approximately 2.5 kathas—was assessed at Tk30 lakh. The property, however, was supposedly taken over even though only Tk5 lakh had been paid as an advance. Local residents stated that Zakir Mia has since been living in a rented house with his wife and two children.
According to law enforcement sources, 28 cases have been brought against Abu Hanif Apu at different times on various grounds, including drug offences. He was arrested in relation to these cases in 2015, 2016, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2025 and most recently in 2026.
Apu is now in jail having been arrested in relation to the shooting of the school student on June 24.
Both the police and the local residents stated that the situation has improved a great deal as a result of Apu's arrest. At the same time, however, many of the members of the syndicate associated with him are still active.
Touhidul Anwar, who is in charge of the Cumilla Kotwali Model Police Station, stated, “The situation at Kantabil is now entirely calm. The police are carrying out regular patrols, and even if any of the accused are released on bail, we will still be keeping an eye on them.”
Anwar Hossain, who is a journalist and the chairman of the Kantabil Area-Based Conscious Citizens’ Committee, stated, “As long as the local residents stay united in their opposition to drugs and ask the authorities for help, there will be no safe haven for drug dealers in the area.”
Kantabil Comes Under Spotlight After School Student Is Shot
Local sources say that on June 24 Apu and his brother Asif fired at Sabbir and Hejaz, the two sons of Shahid Mia, on the western side of Kantabil School. One of the bullets hit Ethan Ahmed Prem, who was a student at Rafique Uddin Memorial High School.
The video of the incident spread rapidly, causing great concern. Abdul Quddus Chowdhury, who is the deputy inspector general of the Chattogram Range of the police, and the local lawmaker Monirul Haque Chowdhury went to the home of the injured student to find out about his condition.
The joint forces then increased their operations in Kantabil and the areas around it.
The police state that Apu was arrested by the Detective Branch (DB) of the Lakshmipur district police on 1st July. After his arrest, having given them some information, the police seized a foreign-made pistol, two magazines and six rounds of ammunition from the Jagannathpur area of Cumilla Sadar upazila.
With regard to the incident, the police also arrested Jamshed Hossain Srabon, the son of Jamal Hossain and Sepu Begum from Kantabil Masjid Para, who was in possession of a pistol made in a foreign country and six rounds of ammunition.
A different case was brought in order to recover the weapons.
Later, as part of a joint forces operation, Apu's brother Asif, his elder brother Sharif, Sharif's associate Jahangir Hossain also known as Sunny, Ashik who lived on the western side of Kantabil School, and Imon who was a tenant of Godarma Colony, were all arrested.
Jahangir Hossain by the name of Sunny had not before become known to the public in relation to his activities.
After those incidents, local residents have become more outspoken in their opposition to drugs. They stated that no matter what had taken place in the past, they would still cooperate with the law enforcement agencies in order to prevent such criminal activities in the future.
A local resident by the name of Sadek Hanafi stated, “Drugs were available to us right at schools, in homes and in all sorts of other places. We have decided to take a stand against drugs and we hope that there will be no drugs in Kantabil any more.”
Sahid Sardar, who lives in Masjid Para in Kantabil, stated, "I have always opposed the use of drugs since the student was shot and I shall keep doing so in the future. If it is necessary, I am willing to give my life."
The Rafique Uddin Memorial High School is in Kantabil; the area attracted attention following the incident in which a student of the school was shot. Photo: Asia Post
Drug Trade Spreads From Kantabil to Namsutrapara Across City
An investigation carried out by Asia Post has discovered that drug trafficking has extended to Kantabil, Godarma Colony, Muslim Mia Colony, Mitul Abasan, Hazrat Para, Namsutrapara and the areas surrounding Wards 15 and 18 in Cumilla city.
It is allegedly the case that several groups are engaged in drug trafficking, making armed demonstrations and carrying out a number of other criminal activities in those areas.
In the Bajrapur section of Ward No. 15, drug trafficking is said to have spread via two brothers, Mohsin and Tanzil, who are connected to Chairman Goli, who lives next to Saiful Bin Jalil's lane.
Later, various drug-selling areas appeared beside the north side of the Kasharipatti Mosque, in the lane north of Chunnu Baba Mazar, on the western side of Moulibhara Pond, in Muslim Mia Colony, in Godarma Colony, near Rafique Uddin Memorial High School in Kantabil and in Mitul Abasan.
Mohsin is one of the main people accused in the case involving the murder of Khokon, who had previously been the general secretary of Cumilla Ajit Guha College.
It has been claimed by local residents that the drug trade in those areas grew during the time that Jummon, son of the late Rafique Mia known as Jin Rafique, was in charge. Jummon is one of the main people accused in the case concerning the armed demonstration in the Chawk Bazar area.
The names of his associates, Jony and Pappu, have also come to light.
There are also claims that individuals who had earlier given up on drug trafficking are being pressured and threatened to go back into the trade.
People from the locality have charged Rushia Begum with selling drugs to the east of Hazrat Para Mosque and Belal with selling drugs behind Namsutrapara Temple and on the western side of the main road.
Cumilla Superintendent of Police (SP) Anisuzzaman said police have a zero-tolerance policy against drugs.
"We are carrying out regular operations aimed at tackling drug-related activities. The police are not content with merely carrying out raids; they also arrest the people accused and bring them under the law. In the Kantabil case, we ourselves arrested the main accused, Apu, together with a weapon," he said.