Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested 634 people for their alleged involvement in robbery by conducting raids across the country including Dhaka in 2023.
On the other hand, the elite force members have been able to arrest a total of 3,166 robbers and bring them under the law since 2018 by conducting regular operations aimed at arresting organized robber gangs involved in various robberies, including highway robberies in the capital and various parts of the country, said Imran Khan, assistant superintendent of police (media wing) of RAB.
In continuation of this, in 2023, RAB arrested a total of 634 people by conducting regular operations to arrest those involved in robberies in various regions, including robberies in the capital Dhaka and various highways of the country, he said,
Several major anti-robbery operations of RAB in 2023 include:
On January 1, 2023, a joint team comprising members of RAB-4 and RAB-11 along with the assistance of Rab headquarters' intelligence wing conducted an operation in the Nabinagar area of Ashulia in the outskirt of the capital.
During the drive, they arrested 14 members including Alamgir (23), the mastermind of the organized inter-district bandit group. Two pick-ups, 13 mobile sets and Tk38,200 along with different types of indigenous weapons were recovered.
In March 16, 2023, an operational team of RAB-11 arrested eight members including its leader of the notorious highway robber gang during committing robbery from Char Bausia area of Ghazaria on Dhaka-Chittagong highway. Various types of local weapons were recovered.
On April 8, 2023, a team of the elite force Battalion-7 conducted an operation on the highway adjacent to Faujdarhat Kalushah Shrine and arrested 10 robbers while preparing for robbery on the highway. Firearms, bullets and indigenous weapons made with indigenous technology were recovered.
On August 9, 2023, the RAB-2 raid arrested five members of the dacoit group with indigenous weapons while preparing for the robbery in the Mohammadpur Beribandh area of the capital.
On October 24, 2023, a raid team of RAB-7 arrested 4 members of an organized bandit gang along with recovery of domestic weapons and drugs while preparing for robbery. 1 CNG used in the robbery was seized at the time.
On December 15, 2023, an operational team of RAB-9 conducted a drive in Sadar area of Brahmanbaria district and arrested three alleged robbers and recovered looted booty.