Police have arrested a man over his alleged involvement in the attempted murder of listed top criminal Yasin Khan, widely known as "Kailla Palash", in Dhaka’s Rampura area.

Imam, 27, was arrested from the capital’s Badda area today, said Ibne Mizan, deputy commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Tejgaon Division.

He said Imam confessed during primary interrogation that members of a rival group opened fire on Palash over a conflict linked to establishing supremacy in the area.

Imam was allegedly riding one of two motorcycles used by the attackers, which has since been seized.

According to police, the attack took place near Ekramunnesa Girls’ High School beside Rampura Bridge on Friday afternoon when Palash was returning home after offering Juma prayers.

Quoting witnesses, police said a gunman shot Palash and fled on a motorcycle while firing blank rounds to create panic. Palash sustained two bullet wounds to the head and was admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital in critical condition.

Palash, 50, was released from prison a little over a month ago after serving around 24 years in jail. He was earlier sentenced to death in 2002 for the murder of a Jubo Dal leader in Rampura, a verdict later commuted to life imprisonment by the High Court.

DC Mizan said drives are ongoing to arrest the remaining suspects involved in the attack. Investigators are looking into whether the shooting was linked to past enmity or a turf war over local business interests.

Law enforcement officials noted that attacks on top criminals by underworld rivals have seen a rise since the political changeover on August 5, 2024.

These incidents indicate a resurgence of gang leaders released from prison, leading to recent violent conflicts that have claimed the lives of several other listed criminals, including Tariq Saif Mamun and Khandokar Noyeem Ahmed Titon.