Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) detained three suspects, including the prime accused, in connection with the harassment of a female journalist and her brother in Dhaka’s Banasree area on Wednesday night. The arrestees are prime accused Shoyeb Rahman, 25, son of Md Mizanur Rahman Khan of Bagerhat’s Moreelganj, Md Raisul Islam, 21, son of Sakhawat Hossain of Bairshal Sadar, and Md Kawsar Hossain, 21, son of Md Nurul Islam of the same district. Sanad Barua, Senior Assistant Superintendent of Police (media) of the Rab-3, said they held the trio from different areas of Dhaka after a video containing the harassment went viral on social media. The elite force started an investigation while several teams launched operations in the capital to capture the accused after they noticed the matter on social media, he said. Female journalist, brother physically assaulted in Banasree for protesting stalking The arrestees were handed over to Rampura police station to take legal action, the Rab officer added. On Wednesday night, Rafia Tamanana, an editorial assistant at New Age, and her brother were assaulted after confronting a group of youths who had allegedly been following her near their home in the Banasree area. The victim described the incident in a post on her Facebook account, triggering widespread criticism over the safety of women outside the house. "Three to four youths emerged from the shop, followed me, and stood next to me. When my brother intervened, they assaulted him and began beating him," she said. Rafia also said she was attacked and beaten by the group when she tried to protect her brother. "People in the area just watched the scene like spectators, and no one came forward to our aid. The attackers even called for reinforcements to form a mob," she added. 2 arrested over alleged gang-rape of female journalist in Dhaka's Pallabi Rafia explained that both she and her brother fled the scene to escape further harm. "I'm not safe in my own neighbourhood?" she lamented. Later, she filed a case with the Rampura police station in this connection.

Home Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury visited the headquarters of the Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) and the Armed Police Battalion (APBn) in Dhaka’s Uttara on Saturday. During his visit, he reviewed the activities of both forces and instructed senior officials to ensure proper accommodation, food, and other necessary facilities for personnel under their command. Top officials of Rab and APBn were present during the visit. Earlier, on February 22, the home adviser monitored patrolling activities aimed at maintaining law and order in the capital. He visited key points, including Banani intersection, Bijoy Sarani, Manik Mia Avenue, Kalabagan, Eden College, and New Market police station. Additionally, he toured Shahbagh intersection, Matshya Bhaban, Moghbazar, Hatirjheel and Police Plaza in Gulshan. During his visits, the adviser engaged with law enforcement personnel and urged them to remain on high alert to ensure security across the country.  

In a major breakthrough, Rapid Action Battalion-11 arrested ten members including the top leadership, of the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA), an armed rebel group that draws its membership mainly from the persecuted Rohingya community, in separate operations conducted in Narayanganj and Mymensingh. According to RAB-11, the arrested individuals include Commander Ataullah (48) and Second-in-Command Mostak (66). Senior AD Muttajil Islam of RAB HQ Media Wing said that acting on intelligence reports, RAB-11 conducted operations on the nights of March 16 and March 17 in two separate teams. The raids took place in the Bhumipolli residential area of Siddhirganj, Narayanganj, and at Nabin Bazar Garden City in Mymensingh. During the arrests, authorities seized a total of Tk 51,39,100 in cash, along with US dollars, Malaysian ringgit, and other foreign currencies. Top ARSA leader arrested with firearm, bullets in Cox’s Bazar Additionally, ARSA combat uniforms, mobile phones, steel chain knives, wristwatches, and other evidence were recovered from their possession. The arrested individuals have been identified as Ataullah Abu Ammar Jununi alias Ataullah (48), Mostak Ahmed (66), Moniruzzaman (33), Salimullah (27), Mosammat Asmaul Husna (23), Md Hasan (15), Asmat Ullah (24), Md Hasan (43), Mosammat Shahina (22) and Mosammat Senowara (17). The arrestees have been handed over to the police for further legal proceedings, he said.

Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) members arrested five suspected members of Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) and a Bangladeshi from Siddhirganj upazila of Narayanganj on Tuesday. The arrestees are ARSA leader Ataullah Abu Ammar alias as Jununi, Moshtak Ahmed, 66, Salimullah, 27, his wife Asmaul Hosna, 23, Hasan, 15, and Bangladeshi Moniruzzaman, 24. They recovered Tk 21.39 lakh in cash from the arrestees. A team of the Rab-11 conducted a drive at a high-rise building in Bhumi Palli Abasan area on Tuesday morning after being tipped-off that some Rohingyas were holding clandestine meetings there. Top ARSA leader arrested with firearm, bullets in Cox’s Bazar Later, they were arrested from the building and handed over to Siddhirganj police station, said Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Shahinur Alam. Two separate cases were filed against the arrestees, he said. The arrestees were holding a secret meeting to carry out acts of sabotage in parts of the country including in Narayanganj and Mymensingh, said the OC. The arrestees were produced before a Naryanganj court with pleas for remand.

In a move aimed at modernising the appearance of law enforcement agencies, the government has unveiled new uniforms for the police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and Ansar. After a meeting of the Law and Order Committee at the Secretariat on Monday, Home Affairs Adviser Lieutenant General (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury announced that the new uniforms would feature distinct colours for each force. Meeting underway to finalise new uniform designs for police, RAB, Ansar "We have finalised three new uniform designs for the police, RAB and Ansar. These uniforms will be phased in gradually, with current attire being replaced over time," the adviser said. The police will now wear iron uniforms, RAB personnel will green olive and Ansar will be dressed in golden wheat, he added. Bangladeshi couple returns home after serving jail in India Responding to questions from reporters, the Security Adviser assured that the uniform transition would not lead to any major financial strain. "There will be no significant budgetary issues in implementing these changes." The decision is part of ongoing efforts to enhance the image and functionality of Bangladesh’s law enforcement agencies, officials said.

After months of discussion over reforms and uniform changes for law enforcement agencies, the government is set to introduce new attire for the police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and Ansar. According to reliable sources, the Home Ministry's advisory council is expected to approve the new uniforms at a meeting today (Monday). Meanwhile, representatives from the police, Ansar, and RAB entered the meeting wearing 18 different uniform prototypes. “These designs are under consideration, and a final decision is anticipated to be made during the session,” said an official wishing anonymity. Read: Call for inclusive police reform to rebuild trust, accountability The initiative for this reform gained momentum following deliberations on police reforms, which began after August 5 last year. The upcoming changes aim to modernise the appearance of law enforcement personnel while aligning with their functional and operational requirements. Read more: No discussion on RAB reforms with US: Home Minister Officials have indicated that the selected uniforms will reflect a combination of practicality and professionalism, ensuring better identification and uniformity across the forces. Further details about the finalised designs and implementation timeline are expected to be announced following the meeting.

Mohammad Selim Ashrafi, infamously known as “Chora Selim,” a notorious criminal and alleged drug kingpin of the Geneva Camp area in the city’s Mohammadpur, was arrested early Thursday in a Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) operation. The arrest follows months of intelligence surveillance carried out by RAB-2 within its jurisdiction. Selim, 44, is accused of masterminding a drug syndicate that has dominated the Geneva Camp area for years. His alleged criminal empire extended beyond drug trafficking to include murder, theft, extortion, and violent clashes. Former Dhaka-10 AL MP Shafiul Islam Mohiuddin arrested from Uttara He faces a staggering 35 criminal cases filed across various Dhaka police stations, including charges of murder and violations under the Narcotics Control Act. The Geneva Camp area has reportedly been under Selim's control. In an effort to restore peace in the Geneva Camp and surrounding localities, RAB-2 intensified its intelligence-gathering efforts against Selim. Acting on actionable intelligence, a specialized RAB-2 team conducted a pre-dawn raid on Thursday and apprehended Selim, said Assistant Superintendent of Police Khan Asif Topu, also Assistant Director (Media) of RAB-2. He emphasized that the operation was part of an ongoing effort to dismantle organized criminal networks in the area. Selim is expected to face swift legal proceedings. Authorities expressed hope that his arrest will mark a turning point for the Geneva Camp region, helping to curb the rampant drug trade and restore law and order.

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has claimed to have arrested one Akash Mondal alias Irfan in connection with the murders of seven people onboard fertiliser-laden vessel MV Al-Bakhera in the Meghna River near Eshanbala Char in Chandpur's Haimchar upazila. A message sent from the elite force said the accused was arrested from Chitalmari upazila of Bagerhat. But it didn’t mention the time when he was arrested. On Monday afternoon, the Coast Guard and River Police recovered five bodies and rescued three injured victims from the vessel. Later, two of the injured succumbed to their injuries at the hospital. The bodies were handed over to families after completing legal procedures on Tuesday. Expressing grave grief, the Ministry of Industries on Tuesday formed a four member probe body headed by an additional secretary and asked to submit a report within five working days.  Read more: Ministry of Industries shocked, forms probe body over MV Al Bakera incident in Chandpur Family members of the victims claimed that the killings were planned and demanded justice. They made the demand while receiving the bodies from Chandpur Sadar Hospital on Tuesday afternoon. The deceased were Golam Kibria ,55, captain of the vessel hailinh from Faridpur, his nephew Sheikh Sabuj,35, a sailor, Aminul Munshi, 40, helmsman from Narail district, Majedul,16, a sailor from Magura Sajibul Islam ,26, sailor from Magura, Salahuddin,40, an engineer from Narail and Kazi Rana 24, its cook from Munshiganj.    

Police arrested five operatives of an organized gang, who allegedly committed a robbery posing as members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) in Dhaka’s Kakrail area on December 4, from several areas of Dhaka on Thursday. Besides, a microbus and eight mobile phones used during the robbery were seized. The arrestees included Mohammad Sajjad Hossain, 35, Mohammad Kabir Hossain, 50, Mohammad Sharif, 25, Mohammad Monir Hossain, 40, and, Mohammad Habibur Khandakar, 38, said a media release sent from Dhaka Metropolitan Police. According to a case statement, one Saiful Islam, Deputy Managing Director (DMD) of the Trasmil Company Limited in Demra, was carrying an amount of Tk 26 lakh inside a school bag, which he had withdrawn from a gold jewelry shop in Tantibazar. On the afternoon of December 4, Saiful boarded a bus from Bangshal Chaurasta, intending to go to his house in Badda. As the bus stopped at a traffic signal near Kakrail in Ramna, 10-12 people boarded the bus and identified themselves as members of RAB. One of them was wearing a RAB-branded jacket and had handcuffs and a wireless set in his possession. Read: RAB rescues infant girl abducted from Azimpur during robbery The gang told passengers that a suspect in a case was traveling on the bus. They pointed to Saiful Islam and forcibly dragged him off the bus, and made him get into a white microbus they were using for the robbery, according to the statement. After robbing him, they blindfolded him, bound his hands, and left him on the road in Demra. The victim, Saiful Islam, filed a robbery case at the Ramna Model Thana on December 11, based on which the police launched an investigation. Further investigation, including the analysis of CCTV footage and intelligence gathering, led the police to seize the microbus used in the robbery on Thursday from the ECB Square area in the Cantonment area of Dhaka. The driver, Mohammad Kabir Hossain, was arrested. Based on his information, a raid was conducted at 1:40pm in front of Al Razzak Hotel in Bangshal, leading to the arrest of four more gang members: Sajjad, Sharif, Monir, and Habibur. Eight mobile phones, used in the robbery, were recovered from their possession. During preliminary interrogation, it was revealed that the arrested individuals were active members of a well-organized inter-district robbery gang. They used the identity of law enforcement agencies to carry out robberies across Dhaka and surrounding districts, following a strict chain of command. Read more:13 arrested during attempted robbery in Dhaka's Dhanmondi They addressed their leaders as “Sir” and distributed the loot according to pre-arranged shares. The gang consists of around 10-12 members, each playing specific roles in the execution of robberies. The arrested suspects were sent to court, and the investigation into the case continues. Efforts to recover other stolen goods and arrest remaining gang members are ongoing.

All allegations of enforced disappearance and killing against Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) will be investigated, said its Director General AKM Shahidur Rahman on Thursday. "I assure you that as long as I am in charge, RAB will not be involved in any enforced disappearances or killings," he said while speaking at a press conference held at Media Center in Karwran Bazar in Dhaka. A commission is investigating all allegations against RAB, including enforced disappearances and killings, he added, "We are fully cooperating with the commission and we believe that legal actions will be taken based on the investigation reports.” Replying to a question about changing the uniform of the elite force, the top RAB official said, “We are thinking about it as RAB has its own law. We are thinking of making a separate law for RAB and will take necessary measures based on public and media feedback regarding reforms.” Referring to the arrest of the members of elite force involved in mugging, the DG said 16 members of the force were arrested in connection with their alleged involvement in mugging and extortion after August 5. ‘Have patience for restoration of democracy’, says Tarique    Since the establishment of RAB, a total of 58 officers and 4,246 members were brought to book. Mentioning about the challenges faced by the elite force after August 5, the RAB chief said a total of 14,500 accused were arrested while 20,000 illegal arms were seized during this period.