United News of Bangladesh

Members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB)-3 have arrested one of the accused in sensational murder Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Fazlul Karim Khan murder case from Demra area of the capital. The arrestee was identified as Md Shafiqul Islam Badsha, also known as Guja Badsha, 55. According to RAB-3, he was arrested during a special drive conducted on April 13 at around 9:10 am at a flat in New Town Residential Area under Demra Police Station. Sanad Barua, Senior Assistant Director (Media) of RAB-3 Headquarters, disclosed the information at a media briefing on Wednesday. During  interrogation and investigation, it was revealed that on August 29, 2013, a group of assailants entered the third floor of ASP Fazlul Karim’s residence on WAPDA Road in West Rampura and killed him before fleeing the scene. Although a case was filed against 25 accused, including the arrestee law enforcers had failed to capture Guja Badsha for years. RAB officials said the accused was a notorious terrorist in Rampura and Hatirjheel areas and had long been involved in drug and arms trading, extortion, and other criminal activities. Following intelligence inputs, RAB-3 initiated shadow investigation and finally succeeded in arresting him. The RAB official said  the accused has a total of 14 cases filed against him with Rampura and Hatirjheel thana including cases related to murder, extortion, under the Special Powers Act, and the explosives Substance Act. Several arrest warrants are also pending against him.

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) Director General Md Ahsan Habib Palash on Monday said there is no specific security threat centering the Pahela Baishakh celebrations but the elite force remains fully prepared to face any sabotage. He made the remarks while briefing reporters after visiting security arrangements at Ramna Batamul in the capital. To ensure a festive and peaceful environment, RAB has deployed all its 15 battalions across the country. A total of 308 patrol teams including 181 pickup patrol units and 127 motorcycle patrol teams will remain active in the field until the end of Baishakhi programmes. Plainclothes intelligence surveillance has also been intensified, he said. In Dhaka, special security measures have been taken at key venues including Shahbagh, TSC, Suhrawardy Udyan, Rabindra Sarobar, Hatirjheel, Manik Mia Avenue, Bangla Academy and Ramna Batamul. Checkposts and observation posts have been set up alongside strengthening regular patrols. To prevent any possible sabotage, bomb disposal units and dog squads are conducting sweeping operations and remain on standby. Adequate reserve forces, control rooms, foot patrols and CCTV monitoring have also been ensured nationwide. Strict monitoring is ongoing to prevent the spread of rumours, provocative or false information. Special measures have also been taken to ensure women's safety and prevent eve-teasing and harassment at celebration venues, he added. He called upon all to immediately inform law enforcement agencies if any suspicious activity or security concern is noticed Expressing optimism, he said this year’s Pahela Baishakh will be celebrated in a peaceful and festive atmosphere like previous years.  

A total of 61 members of various robber gangs have been detained in joint operations over the past 18 months. Captain Mohammad Mesbaul Islam, Zonal Commander of Coast Guard West Zone Headquarters, said on Sunday that they launched drives  titled ‘Operation Restore Peace in the Sundarbans’ and ‘Operation Mangrove Shield,’ to curb robber activities in the Sundarbans. During the drives, members of several groups including Karim-Sharif, Nana Bhai, Chhota Suman, Alif, and Asabur, were detained. Authorities also recovered 80 firearms and 599 rounds of ammunition during the drives. Besides, 78 fishermen and three tourists were rescued. The Coast Guard sources said 944 kg of venison, 900 traps, and a large quantity of illegal goods linked to 29 poachers were seized as part of wildlife protection efforts. Illegal nets worth around Tk 1,806 crore and a significant amount of fish fry were also seized. Security surveillance has intensified across the Sundarbans including Harbaria, Kaikhali, Koyra, Nalian, Mandarbari, and Shyamnagar in Satkhira, as part of ongoing anti-poaching operations. Personnel from the Navy, RAB, Coast Guard, Police, Forest Department, and other agencies are participating in the joint drive.

Newly appointed Director General of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) Md Ahsan Habib Palash on Sunday said the force has not yet received any request from the International Crimes Tribunal regarding allegations of enforced disappearances and crossfire incidents but pledged full cooperation if approached. Any request related to judicial proceedings would be duly honoured, he said a media briefing at the RAB Media Centre in the capital’s Karwan Bazar. Responding to a question about the Chief Prosecutor’s remarks on summoning and examining RAB’s crossfire records, the DG said, “If any cooperation is sought in relation to the judicial process, RAB will provide it. We will share whatever information we have and if any information is unavailable, we will inform accordingly. However, the tribunal has not yet contacted us.” On reported domestic and international calls for disbanding RAB, he said such decisions lie with the government. “RAB’s responsibility is to carry out its assigned duties properly and build public trust through its work,” he added. Addressing allegations that the force was used for political purposes in the past, the DG said recent activities suggest a decline in major irregularities. “If managed properly, RAB can play a constructive role,” he said. On tackling piracy and separatism, he said intelligence surveillance has been strengthened and operations are being conducted based on gathered information. Without directly commenting on militancy, he said RAB continues to work against all forms of terrorism and will maintain that effort in the future. Expressing concern over the rise of juvenile gangs, he said the problem is increasing across the country. “Police and RAB are working jointly, but bringing juveniles under the law often remains challenging,” he noted, urging journalists to support efforts through investigative reporting. Regarding the possible renaming or restructuring of RAB, he said it is entirely a policy matter for the government. “Our priority is to perform our duties. Internal investigations into allegations of human rights violations are ongoing, and no one will be spared,” he said. On US sanctions, the DG acknowledged that the situation stemmed from past shortcomings. “If those are addressed, we hope such sanctions will not continue in future,” he added.

The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has arrested the the prime suspect in a child abduction case involving a two-year-old boy who went missing from Dhaka Medical College Hospital on Eid day. The arrestee, Shahnewaz Chowdhury Bapparaj, 30, was detained during a raid in Shayestaganj thana area in Habiganj on Sunday night. Confirming the matter on Monday afternoon, RAB-10 Senior Assistant Superintendent of Police Tapas Karmakar said Bapparaj is one of the main accused in the case and had been on the run. According to RAB, the minor child, Kazi Fuzail, went to the hospital with his mother and aunt to visit a patient on Eid day. At around 3pm, the child went missing, prompting frantic searches by family members. About an hour later, at around 4pm, the child’s father received a phone call from an unknown number. The caller claimed that the child had been abducted and demanded a ransom of Tk 350,000 for his release. The incident triggered panic and distress among the family members of the child. RAB members quickly launched an operation and eventually rescued the child. Earlier, another suspect named Tanvir was arrested in connection with the abduction. He hails from Dashmina area of Patuakhali. RAB said Tanvir had taken the child in a planned manner and tried to calm him with toys and chocolates when he cried to return to his mother. The rescued child was later handed over to his family, while the arrested accused were transferred to the concerned police station for legal action, RAB added.

Members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) have arrested three accused in connection with the sensational killing of a Leguna driver in the capital’s Jatrabari area. According to the case statement, two to three days prior to the incident, an altercation took place between accused Md Hridoy Hossain, 24, and the victim, laguna driver Md Nure Alam Islam alias Khairul, 35, over picking up passengers at a laguna stand on the Jatrabari-Chittagong Road route. During the altercation, the accused allegedly threatened the victim in various ways. When the victim was driving his laguna and reached in front of Sufia Garments on the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway under Kutubkhali area of Jatrabari Police Station (DMP) on February 20, at around 2:45pm, Hridoy Hossain and his associates allegedly attacked him in a premeditated manner, leaving him critically injured, said Senior SS Hasan Siddiqi, Company Commander of CPU Jatrabari Camp under Rab-10. He was later taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital where the on-duty doctor declared him dead, senior ASP Hasan Siddiqi added. Following the incident, a murder case was filed with Jatrabari Police Station under Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP). In continuation of the drive, a team of RAB-10, CPC-1 Jatrabari Camp, conducted a special operation in the Kutubkhali Fish Market area under Jatrabari Police Station on February 21 at around 7:30pm and arrested the fifth accused named in the case, Md Sohan Munshi, 29, within 12 hours of filing the case. RAB-10 continued its efforts to arrest the remaining accused. Later, on February 23 at around 3:45pm, the first accused named in the case, Md Hridoy Hossain, 24, was arrested from Dayaganj intersection under Gendaria Police Station (DMP). On the same day at around 4:20pm, the third accused named in the case, Md Shakil, 29, was arrested from Mir Hazirbagh Pipe Road area under Jatrabari Police Station. The arrested accused have been handed over to the concerned police station for further legal action.

Members of the Rapid Action Battalion(RAB) have arrested the prime accused in a case over the killing of a Laguna driver in the capital’s Jatrabari area. The arrestee was Sohan Munshi, 29, son of Shahjahan Munshi, a resident of Baherchar village under Madaripur Sadar upazila in Madaripur district. According to Rab-10 sources, Sohan Munshi, along with several associates, attacked Laguna driver Md Nur-e-Alam Islam, also known as Khairul, 35, at a Laguna stand on the Jatrabari–Chattogram Road following a dispute over vehicle serial at 2:45pm on Friday. The injured driver was rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where doctors on duty declared him dead. Following the incident, a murder case was filed with Jatrabari Police Station on Saturday. A team of Rab-10, CPC-1, Jatrabari Camp conducted a special operation using modern information technology and arrested the accused from the Kutubkhali Fish Wholesale Market area under Jatrabari Police Station at around 7:30pm on Saturday, said Senior Assistant Superintendent of Police Tapash Kormokar, media officer of Rab-10. The arrestee was later handed over to the concerned police station for further legal proceedings.

Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury on Tuesday said any kind of chaos at polling stations will be dealt with strictly, as armed forces members are being allowed inside polling stations for the first time. “Any disruption at polling centers will be dealt with strictly. There will be no tolerance for anyone trying to obstruct the election,” he said while talking to reporters after a views-exchange meeting on law and order ahead of the national election at Faridpur Deputy Commissioner office. Officials from five districts of greater Faridpur including district administration, police, army, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and election officers attended the meeting. Vote-buying proves Jamaat’s political bankruptcy, code violation: Mahdi Amin The Home Affairs Adviser said the law-and-order situation is under control and the election is expected to be peaceful. “In Bangladesh history, no election has seen the deployment of so many law enforcement personnel. This election is being conducted more smoothly than ever before. I seek everyone’s prayers,” he added. Responding to questions on women wearing burqas at polling stations, he said the Election Commission has clarified the rules. Female Ansar members will be present at each polling station to take necessary action, if needed.

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) members recovered 6.27 kilograms of gunpowder and bomb-making materials in Shibganj upazila of Chapainawabganj district on Sunday night. According to a press release sent by RAB-5 on Monday morning, those were seized from a mustard field in Parghorapakhia area. No one was arrested in this connection, it said. RAB recovers five looted grenades from Dhaka’s Demra RAB said tipped off, a team conducted a drive around 10 pm on Sunday in the area and found 6.27 kilograms of gunpowder, 1.7 kilograms of small stones, 1.4 kilograms of glass powder, 385 grams of iron nails, 12 red-colored costepes, 31 plastic jars, and 29 gas lighters abandoned in three polythene packets. The seized explosives and materials were handed over to Shibganj Police Station for investigation.

The government has decided to rename the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) as Special Intervention Force (SIF). Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury announced the decision on Tuesday following a meeting of the law-and-order core committee at the Bangladesh Secretariat. RAB, an elite law enforcement unit in Bangladesh, was formed for combating serious crimes, terrorism, and organised criminal activities in 2003. Operating under the Ministry of Home Affairs, RAB is a composite force made up of personnel from the Police, Army, Navy, Air Force, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), and Ansar. The force has played a crucial role in counter-terrorism operations, anti-drug campaigns, and high-profile criminal investigations across the country. Govt to buy 163 vehicles for RAB directly from Pragati Industries RAB was established on July 12, 2003, under the Armed Police Battalion (Amendment) Act, 2003, which amended the Armed Forces Battalion Ordinance of 1979. Since its inception, RAB has faced criticism from human rights organisations over alleged extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances.