Authorities have tightened security in and around the Biswa Ijtema ground in Tongi to prevent any untoward incidents following violent clashes between two groups that left two people dead and many injured. A large contingent of the Army, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), and other forces, along with regular police, have been patrolling the area, reports UNB’s district correspondent from the scene. According to a statement from the BGB headquarters, four platoons have been deployed in the area. Despite the heavy security, a tense atmosphere persists there. Locals reported that followers of Maulana Saad remain inside the ground, while those of Maulana Zubair are positioned outside. Meanwhile, a meeting between the two groups was held at the Ministry of Home Affairs later today (Wednesday). The meeting asked the two groups to vacate the ground and they were learned to have agreed to leave the area. Read: Ijtema: Saad’s supporters attempt to march to Chief Adviser’s residence As per the government’s decision, the first phase of the Biswa Ijtema, organised by Zubair’s followers, will take place from January 31 to February 2 next year, while the second phase, led by Saad’s followers, is scheduled from 7 to 9 February. Although the government permitted the Saad group to host the first phase, the opposing faction has been reluctant to accept the decision. Tensions between the two groups have been brewing ever since. In preparation for their 'Jor Ijtema,' set to be held from December20 to 24, Saad’s followers began entering the ground. But, sensing their presence, Zubair’s followers reportedly attacked them around 3 am. In response, Saad’s supporters, attempting to gain entry to the ground, launched a counter-attack, leading to a fierce clash that resulted in two deaths and numerous injuries. Locals alleged that as Saad’s supporters entered the ground, police stationed at the Ijtema site moved away, positioning themselves on the Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway to the east. Read more: First phase of Biswa Ijtema to begin Jan 31 Tongi West Police Station Officer-in-Charge Iskandar Habibur Rahman confirmed the fatalities, adding that several injured individuals were sent to Dhaka Medical College Hospital. He said that the situation is now under control, with law enforcement remaining on high alert.

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.  

In a decisive move against gang violence, members of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) have apprehended 35 operatives including two masterminds behind several notorious teen gangs, across key areas of Dhaka. From March 11 to 18, focused operations spanned Mohammadpur, Adabar, Nakhalpara, Tejgaon, and surrounding locales, marking a significant stride in curbing urban crime. The arrest announcement came today via a statement from RAB-2’s Senior Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP-media), Shihab Karim. Among those detained were Md. Akash, Md. Farid, and Md. Imam Hossain, alongside figures like Md. Arif alias Rasel Mia and Md. Mosharraf, pinpointing a wide net cast by law enforcement to dismantle these criminal networks. Train movement between Dhaka and north resumes four hours after derailment in Tangail This crackdown follows reports of rampant robbery, mugging, and extortion, leading to a targeted response from several RAB teams in areas under the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) jurisdiction. Notably, operations led to the capture of leaders from the FDC Munna and King Jamal Group, including Md Ismail alias “FDC Munna” and Md Jamal Hossain, as well as heads of the King Mosharraf and Apna Bhai Groups. Authorities also seized locally-made weapons used in these gangs’ criminal endeavours. The arrests reveal a disturbing trend of violence, snatchings, and extortion, with teen gangs frequently clashing over territory and influence. Preliminary interrogations have unearthed admissions of past crimes and plans for future violence, indicating a deep-rooted issue within Dhaka’s underbelly. The arrestees engaged in criminal activities under the guise of everyday professions, from transport workers to vegetable vendors, making their operations not only diverse but challenging to dismantle, said the RAB statement, highlighting the deceptive methods employed by these groups to evade law enforcement. Gazipur gas cylinder blast: Death toll rises to 11 Following their arrest, the teen gang members have been transferred to various police stations across the DMP area for further legal proceedings, signifying the beginning of a lengthy process to bring these individuals to justice.

Members of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) arrested five people who operates teen gangs from Dhaka’s Mohammadpur area on Friday (February 09, 2024). The arrestees were identified as Zulfiker Ali, 37,a ringleader of the operator of teen gang of Jamalpur,  Harun-or Rashid, 38 of Mymensingh,  Shamsuddin Bepari, 48 of Bhola, Krishna Chandra Das, 28 of Munshiganj and Suruj Mia, 30 of Mymensingh districts. Tipped off, a team of Rab-3 conducted a drive in Mohammadia Housing Society and arrested the five people including ringleader Zulfiker who operate two teen gangs ‘Diamond’ and ‘De Dhakka’, on Friday night, said Azhar Hossain, assistant superintendent of police. Read: Subarnachar gang rape: Another accused arrested The elite force also seized one foreign made pistol, one magazine, two sharp weapons and seven knives from the possession. After primary interrogation, police came to know that they had long been involved in engaging drug addicts or teens in different criminal activities including arms and drug business, mugging, extortion, abduction, robbery and land occupation after alluring them of giving money, said Azhar. The teen members of Zulfiker’s gangs were involved in mugging. Read: 2 more arrested over rape on JU campus 

Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) arrested two alleged drug dealers, including a teenaged girl, and recovered nearly 2000 yaba pills that they had swallowed to avoid detection by law enforcers, from the Sher-e-Banglanagar area of the capital on Sunday night. The arrestees were identified as Md Russel (26) and his accomplice Sanjida Akhtar (18) . 2 people killed in separate road accidents in Chattogram An operational team of Rab-2 battalion headquarters obtained information on Sunday night at around 10:35 pm that two drug dealers were coming to Dhaka with a consignment of drugs. Based on the information, the operational team of the elite force set up a check post on the street in front of Pangu Hospital under Sherebangla Nagar police station. While they were implementing a search of a passenger bus, two passengers towards the back of the bus started acting very suspiciously and were detained for questioning. During interrogation, Russel admitted that he was carrying yaba in his stomach. BGB arrests man with 70,000 Yaba pills in Cox’s Bazar Russell was then taken to Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital, where further tests including an X-ray revealed the presence of a palm-shaped polythene-wrapped yaba packets in the stomach of arrested Russel. Once the existence of yaba was confirmed, Russel was officially shown-arrested and medics removed 38 of the packets described above from his stomach through the anus. Each of these potla contained 50 yaba, giving a total of 1900 yaba obtained from Russel. Meanwhile Sanjida was suspected of wearing fake hair extensions when she was searched by two female members of RAB. Eventually a single packet of 50 pills was found and extracted from her hair. 2.60 lakh yaba pills, 1.05 kg crystal meth seized in Cox’s Bazar During preliminary interrogation, it was also learned that the arrested Russel collected yaba from the Cox's Bazar frontier. He also revealed that he used to take small plastic wrapped yaba pills inside his stomach through drinking juice and food items to help swallow it down.

M Khurshid Hossain, Director General (DG) of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has said those trying to obstruct voters from casting ballots will be resisted as voting is a constitutional right. Alongside other law enforcing agencies, the elite force will perform their duties in a coordinated way to ensure smooth movement of voters to the polling centers, he said while speaking at a press briefing held at Khulna RAB-6 office on Tuesday (January 02, 2024). Half of the polling centers in Dhaka considered ‘vulnerable’: DMP Commissioner RAB will remain in the field before, on election day and after to maintain law and order, he also said. Besides, RAB is closely monitoring the situation to prevent any kind of sabotage or violence centering the election, said the RAB DG. 25 temporary camps to be set up across country ahead of polls:  RAB

Members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) have arrested a local Jubo Dal leader from Chandgaon area of Chattogram city early today (November 28, 2023) for his suspected involvement in police constable Amirul’s killing on October 28 during BNP’s grand rally in Dhaka. Read: Ctg BNP leader arrested on eve of Oct. 28 rally dies of 'heart attack' in jail Murad Chowdhury, general secretary of Chattogram north district Jubo Dal, was arrested around 1 am on Tuesday, said Nurul Afsar, senior assistant director of RAB-7. Later, RAB handed him over to the police, he said. Read: 721 arrested by RAB on charges of sabotage since Oct 28 Jubo Dal leader Murad Chowdhury, along with his followers, took part in BNP’s grand rally in Naya Paltan area of Dhaka on October 28, RAB informed.

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) on Sunday arrested a total of 20 people from different parts of the country in connection with car vandalism, arson and sabotage. So far, from October 28, RAB arrested a total of 370 people involved in violence and sabotage in different parts of the country, said Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) of Rab headquarter's media wing Imran Khan. 152 BGB platoons deployed across the country amid BNP-Jamaat's latest blockade RAB forces arrested Feni District Juba Dal President Zakir Hossain and Chapainawabganj District Chhatra Dal President Yusuf Ali from Chapainawabganj Sadar area for their suspected involvement in police constable Amirul killing. Fire Service records 9 arson attacks in the country in 10 hrs Besides, Feni district Jubo Dal general secretary Nasir Uddin, Bogra district BNP joint convener Mizanur Rahman, Jhenaidah district BNP joint convener Shaon and Manikganj's Ghior thana BNP vice-president Billal Hossain were arrested in connection with the cocktail bomb blast and sabotage case in Islampur area under Feni model police station. RAB arrests 26 for political violence, sabotage More than 150 RAB patrol teams have been deployed in the capital and more than 450 patrol teams have been deployed across the country to prevent violence and sabotage and to maintain law and order situation in the country.

The High Court today (October 15, 2023) expressed dissatisfaction over the probe report submitted by the high-level investigation committee on the death of Union land office employee Sultana Jasmine in RAB custody in Naogaon. "The report is unclear," the High Court said. “It did not include anything regarding the process of detaining Sultana Jasmine. The report also failed to say whether her relatives were informed after her (Jasmine) detention. Therefore, the court is not satisfied with the report.” Also read: HC grants 2 more months for probe into Jasmine’s death in RAB Custody The HC bench of Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice Muhammad Mahbub-ul-Islam made the remarks on Sunday. Later, the High Court bench directed the preparation of the rule for the upcoming hearing on this matter. The court scheduled the hearing for the rule for November 29.      Advocate Manoj Kumar Bhowmick appeared for the writ petitioner in the court. Deputy Attorney General Samarendra Nath Biswas, Assistant Attorney General Abul Kalam Khan Dawood and Assistant Attorney General Taufiq Sajwar Partha were present on behalf of the state. Also read: Death in Custody: RAB quizzes Jasmine's son and brother-in-law Advocate Manoj Kumar Bhowmick said the High Court was dissatisfied over the probe report as some key information was missing from the report. Earlier on May 22, the Cabinet Division formed a high-level investigation committee to investigate the death of land office employee Sultana Jasmine in RAB custody in Naogaon based on the High Court’s directive. The High Court ordered the committee to complete the investigation and submit its report within 60 days. On August 14, the committee submitted a 302-page report to the High Court. Also read: Sultana Jasmine died from brain hemorrhage: postmortem report Union land office employee Sultana was detained by RAB from Muktirmor area of Naogaon city on March 22. She was admitted to Naogaon hospital the same day after she fell ill and later died at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital on March 24. According to the postmortem report submitted by the Forensic Department of Rajshahi Medical College Hospital, Sultana Jasmine died from brain haemorrhage. Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) said Jasmine was arrested for interrogation as there was an accusation of fraudulence against her. Also read: Calls grow for judicial investigation of Jasmine's death in custody

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) say they have arrested three members of the militant group, Jama'atul Ansar Fil Hindal Sharqiya, including its Ameer, Md Anisur Rahman, from Munshiganj's Louhajang upazila early today (July 24, 2023). The identities of the other operatives were not disclosed by the law enforcers. Read: 2 arrested for detonating homemade explosive on Dhanmondi 32 Acting on a tip-off, a RAB team conducted a drive in Boronopara village in Louhajang upazila around 3 am and arrested the three men, ANM Imran Khan, assistant director of RAB's Legal and Media wing, said. During the drive, the RAB team also recovered firearms and explosives from the alleged Jama'atul Ansar Fil Hindal Sharqiya operatives, he added. Read: Land dealer Ekhlas killing: DB arrests 5 suspects including industrialist mastermind Details are set to be disclosed at a media briefing at RAB's media centre in Dhaka at 11:30 am.