A long-standing feature of Chattogram’s criminal underworld is the widespread use of nicknames that overshadow real identities. Locals rarely know offenders by their given names, instead recognizing them through fear-inducing aliases such as “Gulibappa,” “Chhapaty Faruk,” or “Bhagina.” The Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP) recently released a list of 330 wanted criminals, revealing that at least 15 of them are known primarily by such nicknames. These aliases are deeply rooted in the city’s alley-based culture, where youth gangs, neighborhood rivalries, and local social ties give rise to new monikers.

Police officials acknowledge that this nickname culture complicates investigations, as matching aliases with legal identities often takes significant time. CMP Additional Commissioner Wahidul Haque Chowdhury cited “Barma Saiful” as an example, noting that his nickname originated from his residence in Barma Colony and that he faces over 30 cases. Security analyst M Shahiduzzaman described nicknames as tools of intimidation and survival, helping criminals evade law enforcement.

The persistence of this culture across areas like Chawkbazar, Sadarghat, and Pahartali underscores how deeply it has shaped local crime networks, making law enforcement’s task of identification and prosecution increasingly complex.