United News of Bangladesh

Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) detained two suspected criminals with a foreign pistol, a magazine and four bullets from Mohammadpur's Nurjahan Road area on Tuesday night. The detainees were identified as Md Maruf Hasan, 22, and Md Abdur Rahman Siam, 21. They were rounded up during a raid conducted inside Qureshi Kabab and Restaurant around 11:10pm, Sanad Barua, said senior assistant superintendent of police (media) of the Rab-3. A Rab team conducted the operation after being tipped-off that the duo had been staying inside the restaurant. DMP arrests 71 during raid at Mohammadpur, Adabor Sensing the presence of the Rab members, the accused attempted to flee but were detained. While searching their bodies, the foreign pistol, one magazine and four rounds of live ammunition. During preliminary questioning, they confessed to keeping the weapons in their possession and using them to carry out various criminal activities in the area. Legal action against the duo was underway.

Members of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) in separate drives arrested 26 muggers from different parts of the capital. The drives were conducted in Mohammadpur, Dhanmondi, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, and Tejgaon Industrial areas of the capital, said a press release of Rab-2. RAB conducted the drives in the city following growing incidents of mugging in Dhaka. After primary interrogation, the muggers said they used to snatch belongings from the people at night and refrain from going out during the day time. Police arrest notorious mugger in city’s Khilgaon Rab also recovered some local arms from their possession.  

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) rescued a female dentist from Pabna city on Tuesday, a day after she was abducted from the Chandrima Residential Area in Rajshahi city. Three individuals have been arrested in connection with the abduction, and authorities are continuing operations to apprehend others involved. The victim, identified as 26-year-old Shakira Tasnim Dola, recently completed her Bachelor of Dental Surgery degree from Islami Bank Medical College in Rajshahi. The abduction is linked to Shakira’s former lover, Tanjim Khan Taj Nirob, who falsely claimed to be a magistrate when the two began a relationship three to four years ago. Recently, Nirob proposed marriage, but Shakira’s family discovered his true profession as an egg vendor and rejected the proposal. Enraged, Nirob allegedly plotted the abduction, hiring a microbus to carry out the crime. Read: Infant rescued one month after abduction from Gazipur, 2 arrested In the early hours of Monday, Nirob and his associates first targeted Shakira’s father, Abu Taher Md Khurshid, 60, a retired Bangladesh Water Development Board official. They abducted him as he was heading to the mosque for Fajr prayers. The group then used his keys to enter the family home, where they abducted Shakira. During the ordeal, her mother, Rehana Parvin, was injured after being shoved into a wall. On their way to Pabna from Rajshahi, the abductors released Abu Taher in the Hatikumrul area of Sirajganj. Upon his return, he filed an abduction case with Chandrima Police Station, naming Nirob and his associates as suspects. Read more: Abduction and extortion feared in the disappearance of businessman from Ctg’s Boalkhali Mohammad Ilias Khan, squadron leader of RAB-12 in Pabna, confirmed that Shakira was rescued from Pabna on Tuesday. Three suspects, including Nirob, were arrested during the operation. Drives are ongoing to apprehend other individuals involved in the abduction, he said.

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has revealed that arrestee Irfan murdered the seven people onboard fertiliser-laden vessel in the Meghna River out of anger after being deprived of wages for long and misconduct with him by the vessel’s master Golam Kibira. Major Sakib Hossain, deputy commandant of the RAB-11 in Cumilla, disclosed this at a press briefing in Cumilla on Wednesday. He said Irfan, son of Jagodish Mandol of Bagerhat’s Fakirhat upazila, used to work as a helping-hand of the vessel’s staff. The RAB official said they recovered a hand glove, two empty packets of sleeping pills, seven mobile phones of the deceased, a blood-stained jeans pant from the procession of Akash Mondal alias Ifran who was arrested from Bagerhat’s Chitalmari upazila. Major Sakib informed that the vessel’s master Kibria didn’t pay wages to Irfan for the past eight months and used to misbehave with him, causing anger to the accused. From this point, the accused hit upon a plan to kill the master and bought three packets of sleeping pills from a Pabna Bazar when the vessel anchored there, the RAB officer said. The accused made the master and others senseless by feeding the sleeping pills after mixing with meals, he said. Read: Killings on vessel: Families demand investigation, justice First, he murdered the master with a Chinese axe wearing hand gloves and later the six others when they witnessed the matter, Major Sakib said. After killing all, the accused took the vessel near Eshanbala Char in Chandpur's Haimchar upazila from the Meghna River and anchored it there, he said, adding that later Irfan fled the scene by a trawler. On the other hand, the vessel’s owner Mahabub Morshed filed a murder case accusing some unidentified people with the relevant police station, said Haimchar police station’s officer-in-charge Md Mohiuddin Suman on Wednesday. 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. Read more: Chandpur tragedy: RAB arrests an accused from Bagerhat The bodies were handed over to families after completing legal procedures on Tuesday. 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. 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.

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