Just like his militant Holey Artisan Bakery killer friend Nibras Islam, Kalyanpur militant Shazad Rouf Arko used to be a fun-loving person and musician who often performed at family gatherings, according to a report published in Telegraph of India today.

Shazad Rouf Arko shares a happy moment with family and friends. He was one of the nine militants killed in gunfight with law enforcers in Kalyanpur, Dhaka on Tuesday Photo taken from Facebook.

American citizen Shazad along with family returned to Dhaka from Chicago several years back and he studied at the American International School. Later, he and Nibras studied at the North South University.

Both of them went missing from February.

According to Telegraph report that quoted anonymous family member, Shazad’s family members are US citizens and Shazad's father is a "dollar millionaire" who supplies crowd-control gadgets and defence products to security forces in Bangladesh. His grandfather was a former defence high official.

Shazad Rouf Arko in a party with friends. Photo taken from Facebook.

A relative told Telegraph, "He (Shazad) was a fun-loving, normal boy, who loved playing musical instruments.... I still remember a family gathering in January this year, where he sang Dutt's songChakri-ta ami peye gechhi Bela sunnchho (I have got the job, Bela)."

"The family was in Chicago... but returned after Shazad's mother was diagnosed with cancer. After coming back, Shazad studied in American International School in Dhaka and did his International Baccalaureate. Then, he did his BBA and was studying MBA at North South University," said the family member.

"The family has a liberal background.... They would host parties at home where people would come and sing,” he added.

"Shazad's mother died in 2009. Since then, he started praying five times a day.... But we never thought that he would become a terrorist," the relative added.

"We do not support what he did. We condemn terrorism unequivocally. But the authorities should also bring to book those who brainwashed youngsters like Shazad and pushed them into this," the relative added.

When the authorities drew up a list of missing youths - after the July 1 attack brought to the fore the disappearance of the young - Shazad's name featured on it. "From the photographs released by the police, we could identify him," said the family member.

Shazad is one of the nine militants killed in gunfight with law enforcers Tuesday.

Source: Telegraph of India