Ershad Sikder: Bangladesh’s Most Dangerous Serial Killer

Ershad Sikder remains a notorious figure of crime and unlawful activity in Bangladeshi history.

Born in 1955, Sikder went on to become the embodiment of the worst of humanity.

Throughout his deadly life, he committed seven murders as well as being the perpetrator of robbery, extortion and theft.

His reign of terror ultimately came to an end. However, what led him to embark on a life full of scandal and crime?

Join DESIblitz as we delve into the life and activity of Ershad Sikder.

Life, Robbery & Entry into Politics

Ershad Sikder was born in the village of Madargona in 1955 in Bangladesh, which was then East Pakistan.

In the 60s, Sikder moved from his hometown to the Khulna District.

A job as a railway worker first introduced him to the dark world of crime, when he began engaging in robbery and forming gangs.

This led him to be branded as ‘Ranga Chora’ by the local people.

In the 70s, Sikder formed another gang named ‘Ramada Bahini’. The group dabbled in theft and terrorism activity, causing havoc on the railway lines.

They mainly operated in the Ghat area and the Khulna Railway Station.

Interestingly, Sikder experienced a shift in his trajectory of power in the 80s when he forayed into politics.

This came after the rise of Hussain Muhammad Ershad. Via the Jatiya Party, Sikder found a gateway in 1982.

In the following election in 1988, he was elected the Commissioner of Ward 8.

Sikder joined his BNP Government in 1991 before changing his party to the Awami League on December 26, 1996.

However, he was soon expelled though he remained the Ward 8 Commissioner.

Diving into his later life, Sikder was married at least six times.

His first wife was Khodeja Begum, with whom he tied the knot in 1973. He had four children with her – three sons and a daughter.

Khodeja made at least two attempts to elope with various people while she was married to Sikder. However, she was unsuccessful.

The people she was absconding with were killed but Sikder spared Khodeja.

Sikder showered another wife, Sanjida Akhter Shobha, with a wealthy mansion.

He is also proven to have married women named Taslima, Farida and Durgargaire.

Rajasakshi Nure Alam, one of Sikder’s accomplices, alleged that another one of Sikder’s wives – Hira – suffered abuse at the hands of the murderer.

However, it seems that out of all his relationships, Sikder regretted marrying a wife named Sanjida Nahar Shova.

When asked about his mistakes, the criminal mastermind is said to have replied: “Shobha.”

Shobha claimed that Sikder promised her a sum of Tk. 1 crore (£73,200) if she married him. However, it is not confirmed whether he ever paid her.

His Crimes

Ershad Sikder’s increase in power meant that he could indulge in certain activities with more freedom and flexibility.

From 1984 to 1986, Sikder was a major influence in the Khulna properties. In the guise of this involvement, the criminal pioneered the drug trade of the era.

He also exercised extortion among other crimes.

In 1991, he ousted Rafiq – the owner of an ice factory so that traders were forced to purchase their ice from Sikder.

That ice factory is known as the killing ground of Ershad Sikder. The murderer used it as his torturous centre and many of his murders took place there.

With Alam, Sikder came to be accused of over 60 murders.

Alam gave a statement that described 24 killings and claimed that Sikder had more than 70 victims.

In his house known as the ‘Swarnakamal’, a weapon was discovered.

A survivor named Abdus Salam ran away from Khulna and told his story only after Sikder’s arrest, claiming that Sikder chopped his hands off at the wrist.

Ershad Sikder was born into crime. His father had died in prison while his grandfather served time for robbery.

There is no denying that Sikder had a tumultuous upbringing that may have fuelled his descent into unlawful living.

However, many others have rough starts in life and they don’t go on to become ruthless murderers.

A compulsion for power and respect may have been Sikder’s motive for being the man that he was.

His motto has been described as “buy off people and if they refused, bump them off.”

Arrest & Death

The crimes of Ershad Sikder ultimately ended when he was arrested in 1999.

With over 40 cases registered against him, he was sentenced to death and also given four life sentences.

The brutal killer was executed on May 10, 2004, at the Khulna District Jail in Bangladesh.

Before his execution, Sikder’s close relatives met him in two groups.

The first group also included Sikder’s first wife Khodeja, but he was allegedly displeased to see her and blamed her for his death penalty.

The other group contained Sanjida Nahar Shova, but Sikder reportedly declined to meet them.

Sikder asked Khodeja to hand his dead body over to his brother Ashraf Ali ‘Bara Mia’ Sikder and his sister Selina Khatun for burial.

After his arrest, Shova gave birth to Sikder’s daughter. She was named Jannatul Nawrin Esha.

In March 2022, Esha took her own life at the age of 22.

At the time of her death, Esha was allegedly in a relationship with a young man named Plabon Ghosh.

Impact

Many survivors bravely spoke up about the torture they experienced at the hands of Ershad Sikder.

He was truly a dark figure in Bangladeshi history.

The impact of his crime highlighted discrepancies in the system at the time as it took over five years to stop his terrifying escapades.

Sikder is said to have manipulated and bribed eight of the 11 police commissioners in Khulna during his span of crimes.

During his life, he widowed, abused and murdered many innocent people, and is therefore regarded as perhaps the most dangerous criminal in Bangladesh’s history.

Ershad Sikder was a horrifying narcissist, hungry for power and lust.

If anyone came in between him and his goals, they found themselves at the receiving end of his wrath.

This serial killer was the nightmare of many.

His journey from a poor labourer to a mass murderer sends chills down millions of spines.

When he was finally punished for his crimes, many could breathe a sigh of relief.

However, for several people, the impact of Ershad Sikder still opens many wounds.