United News of Bangladesh

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.  

The government has decided to procure vehicles for the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) through the direct purchase method without inviting tenders, approving the acquisition of three jeeps, 100 patrol pickup trucks and 60 air-conditioned microbuses from state-owned Pragati Industries Limited. The decision was given a policy-level approval at a meeting of the Advisory Council Committee on Economic Affairs held at the Secretariat on Tuesday, with Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed in the chair. The procurement will be carried out under the project titled ‘Enhancement of Operational Capability of RAB Forces (1st Revised)’, aimed at strengthening the operational capacity of the elite force by addressing its vehicle shortage. RAB raids Gazipur fake currency factory, arrests three Briefing journalists after the meeting, Adviser to the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan said the committee approved the proposal to procure the vehicles through the direct purchase method instead of the Open Tender Method (OTM). Responding to questions on the rationale behind the decision, Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs Nasimul Gani said the government intended to keep public funds within state-owned entities. “Pragati Industries is the country’s first automobile manufacturing company and it is a fully state-owned one. That is why we have decided to procure the vehicles from this organisation,” he said. When asked whether the vehicles would be delivered ahead of the upcoming national election, Nasimul Ghani clarified that the approval was not an election-driven one. “Only policy approval has been given today. The procurement process will take time and the vehicles will arrive much later, in phases. This is merely a formal decision. After placing the order, Pragati will import the required components from Japan using the allocated funds,” he added. Sources present at the meeting said the Ministry of Home Affairs placed the proposal for procuring the vehicles directly under the revised RAB capacity enhancement project, which subsequently received policy approval from the committee. The project was originally approved by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on November 7, 2018, with an implementation period from December 1, 2018 to January 31, 2026. The initiative aims to enhance RAB’s effectiveness and modernise its operations by addressing logistical constraints, particularly the shortage of vehicles. Officials informed the meeting that the vehicles are urgently required in the 2025–26 fiscal year. As procurement through the OTM is time-consuming, the direct purchase method has been proposed under Section 68 of the Public Procurement Act (PPA) 2006, citing state emergency needs. The move is intended to ensure effective law and order management and maintain operational readiness ahead of the national parliamentary election. The day’s Economic Affairs Committee meeting approved another proposal in principle to withdraw the project titled ‘Construction of Multimodal Hub at Dhaka Bimanbandar Railway Station’ from the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) project list. The proposal was placed by the Ministry of Railways. Following detailed discussions, the committee recommended the proposal for approval in principle. The project had earlier received in-principle approval at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on October 17, 2018 for implementation under the PPP framework. However, officials said the identified land was insufficient for the project’s requirements, no transaction adviser was appointed for feasibility studies, and no significant progress had been made, prompting the decision to withdraw it from the PPP list. The Power and Energy Adviser said there were a total of five agenda items in the meeting for discussions. Among them, one proposal came from the Ministry of Agriculture, one from the Ministry of Home Affairs, one from the Energy and Mineral Resources Division, and two proposals from the Ministry of Railways. He said the first proposal was related to providing regular subsidies to farmers affected by damage to potato cultivation. “The proposal has been sent back for further examination to ensure that the subsidy reaches genuine farmers through an appropriate mechanism,” Besides, a proposal by the Energy and Mineral Resources Division to transport gas in LNG form from Bhola via inland waterways for direct supply to industrial establishments under Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution PLC through the Bangladesh Navy was withdrawn from the meeting.  

A case has been filed in connection with the murder of a Rab official in a gun attack by armed criminals at Jungle Salimpur in Sitakunda of Chattogram. The case was filed against 29 identified and 150-200 unidentified people with Sitakunda Police Station on Wednesday night, said Shakila Yasmin Suchona, additional superintendent (Sitakunda Circle) of Chattogram Police. Yeasin, a suspected criminal and also a resident of Jungle Salimpur, was made the prime accused in the case. So far, three people - Zahid, Yunus and Arif- have been arrested in connection with the incident. Police are interrogating the arrestees, said Officer-in-Charge of Sitakunda Police Station, Mohinul Islam. Motaleb Hossain, a Deputy Assistant Director (DAD) of RAB-7 was killed and three others were injured in a gun attack by armed criminals during a drive to recover illegal arms in the hilly area of Jungle Salimpur in Sitakunda on January 19.

An officer of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) was killed and three others were injured in a gun attack by armed criminals while recovering weapons in the hilly area of Jungle Salimpur in Sitakunda on Monday evening (January 19, 2026). The deceased was identified as Abdul Motaleb, a Deputy Assistant Director (DAD) of RAB-7. Read more: Chankharpul massacre verdict on Tuesday; BTV to air live Three other officials- Lance Naik Imam, Naik Arif, and Constable Rifat- were critically injured and admitted to Chattogram Medical College Hospital (CMCH), said Additional Superintendent of Police (Crime and Ops) Sirajul Islam. Md Sohel Rana, in-charge of the Sitakunda Fouzdarhat Police Outpost, said RAB-7 came under the gun attack by armed criminals during the arms recovery drive. He said Jungle Salimpur is a remote hilly area where thousands of illegal settlements have grown over the past four decades on government and khas land. The region has long served as a safe haven for hill grabbers, armed criminals, and land mafias. The area is reportedly still controlled by armed groups, making entry for outsiders extremely difficult, added the in-charge. Read more: Justice trails shadows; RAB arrests suspect in brutal Banasree murder

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) members arrested a fugitive convict from Ashulia in Savar on Wednesday night. Jamshed Hossain, 46, a resident of Nazirpur village under Bauphal upazila in Patuakhali district, was sentenced to life term imprisonment in a case six years back, said Officer-in-Charge of Savar Police Station Arman Ali said. Read more: Operation Devil Hunt Phase-2: 67 arrested in 24 hours in Dhaka He was arrested in a joint operation conducted by RAB-8, CPC-1 Patuakhali Camp and RAB-4, CPC-2 Nabinagar Camp based on secret information. After arrest, Jamshed was handed over to Savar Police Station for taking legal action.

Members of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), in a drive on Wednesday, rescued an eighth-grade schoolgirl who was abducted from Khulna on January 1, from Dakkhin Surma upazila of Sylhet. The elite force also arrested Shohagh Mia, 29, son of Nur Islam of Chhatak upazila in Sunamganj district, from the spot. According to RAB, the victim went to school on January 1 but did not return home, said KM Shahidul Islam, Additional Superintendent of Police (Media Officer) of RAB-9. Read more: Child kidnapped using ’devil breath’ in Dhaka rescued: 3 held Failing to trace the girl, her family later learned that three to four unidentified assailants had forcibly abducted her from the Phulbari Gate bus stand under Khanjahan Ali Police Station in Khulna and taken her away in a CNG-run auto-rickshaw. Later, the victim’s father filed a case with Khanjahan Ali Police Station.

Mahdi Hasan, member secretary of the Habiganj district unit of Students Against Discrimination (SAD), was granted bail on Sunday (January 04, 2026) after appearing before the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court in Habiganj. Hasan was arrested on Saturday evening (January 03, 2026) by the Detective Branch (DB) from a house in Shayestaganj and later handed over to Habiganj police. Authorities did not disclose the reason for his arrest when contacted by journalists. His lawyer, Abdul Malek Hriday, filed a bail petition, which the court approved. SAD demands unconditional release of Mahdi Hasan by tonight According to police, an FIR (No. 1/26) was filed at Shayestaganj Police Station accusing Hasan of obstructing government work through illegal assembly. The arrest triggered protests by SAD leaders and activists outside the police station in Habiganj and at Shahbagh in Dhaka, demanding his immediate release. Police, army personnel and members of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) were deployed to maintain law and order. Hasan was taken to court early Sunday morning, where the magistrate granted him bail. SAD Habiganj Member Secretary detained after video goes viral The incident followed the detention of Enamul Hasan Nayan, vice-president of Shayestaganj Sadar Union Chhatra League, by police late Thursday night over allegations of involvement with the banned Chhatra League. After Nayan’s detention, SAD leaders and activists laid siege to Shayestaganj Police Station on Friday, demanding his release. A group led by Mahdi Hasan reportedly entered the office of the officer-in-charge (OC) and argued with police officials. A video of the incident later went viral on Facebook, showing Mahdi making controversial remarks while addressing the OC, which drew widespread criticism. In the video, Mahdi is heard saying, “We burned down Baniachong police station, and we set SI Santosh on fire. SAD issues show-cause notice to Habiganj leader over unwarranted statements at police station From that position, how dare you say, ‘So what if he is an SAD activist?’ Did so many of our brothers come here for nothing? Through the July movement, we formed the government. In this context, you are part of our administration. Yet you have arrested our people.” Following mediation by Additional Superintendent of Police (Habiganj Sadar Circle) Shahidul Islam, Nayan was released around 3:30 pm on Friday. Mahdi Hasan later acknowledged receiving a show-cause notice, claiming his remarks were a 'slip of the tongue'.

Members of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) have arrested three more people, including the parents of prime suspect Faisal Karim Masud, in connection with the attempted murder of Dhaka-8 aspiring independent candidate Sharif Osman Hadi in Puratan Paltan. With the latest arrests, the total number of detainees in the case has risen to 10. The newly arrested people are Faisal’s father Humayun Kabir, 70, his mother Hasi Begum, 60, and another suspect, Md Faisal, 25, a resident of Narsingdi. They were later handed over to the Detective Branch (DB) of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police, according to a media release issued by RAB-10 on Tuesday night (December 16, 2025). Read more: Inqilab Moncho provides first update from Singapore on Osman Hadi's condition RAB officials said a team conducted a special drive around 5:30am on Tuesday in Hasnabad Housing area under Dakshin Keraniganj Police Station and arrested Faisal’s parents. Preliminary investigations revealed that Faisal, the third of four siblings, frequently visited his sister Jesmin Akter’s apartment in Dhaka’s Agargaon area. On the night of the incident, he reportedly carried a bag to the apartment and later disposed of it discreetly. He subsequently sent his 18-year-old nephew, Jamil, to retrieve the bag. During the period, Faisal also threw one of his mobile phones from the rooftop and handed another phone to his mother, RAB officials said. Feeling insecure in Agargaon, Faisal allegedly moved to Mirpur and later to Shahjadpur, where he stayed at the residence of his cousin Arif, the nephew of his father Humayun Kabir. Read more: RAB arrests close aide of main accused in attempted assassination of Osman Hadi Investigators said Humayun Kabir later hired a CNG-run auto-rickshaw and provided cash to transport Faisal’s bag. Faisal also visited his younger brother Hasan Mahmud Bablu, also known as Raj, in Keraniganj, and used two newly purchased SIM cards. Meanwhile, RAB recovered three firearms and ammunition from a water body near Molla Bari in the Tarua area of Narsingdi Sadar during the operation. The seized items included two foreign-made pistols, two magazines, one toy pistol and 41 rounds of ammunition. However, forensic examination is yet to confirm whether the weapons were used in the shooting. Hadi, a spokesman of the Inquilab Moncho formed after last year’s July uprising, was shot in the head on Friday while campaigning in Puratan Paltan. The assailants opened fire from a moving motorcycle. CEC takes attack on Hadi seriously, orders immediate action: EC He was initially treated at Dhaka Medical College Hospital before being shifted to Evercare Hospital. On Monday, he was airlifted to Singapore for advanced treatment. With the consent of Hadi’s family, Abdullah Al Zaber, member secretary of Inquilab Moncho, filed a case with Paltan Police Station on Sunday night, naming Faisal Karim Masud and several unidentified individuals. The case, now under DB investigation, has already led to the arrest of Faisal’s wife, a female friend, his brother-in-law, the owner of the motorcycle used in the attack, an accomplice named Kabir, and two others from border areas accused of aiding his escape. Read more: CEC takes attack on Hadi seriously, orders immediate action: EC

As the national election approaches, law enforcement agencies have stepped up operations to recover illegal firearms, aiming to prevent violence, sabotage and broader security threats. As in previous election cycles, police, the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and intelligence agencies are conducting special drives nationwide. Yet a critical question persists: how effective are these efforts on the ground? The concern is sharpened by the fallout from the student-led mass uprising on August 5 last year, when 5,763 firearms were looted or went missing from police stations and other installations across the country. Of these, 4,426 weapons have since been recovered, leaving 1,337 still untraced. A senior official at Police Headquarters, speaking on condition of anonymity, told UNB that most of the recovered looted weapons were heavy arms. The missing cache, however, largely consists of small firearms such as pistols and revolvers. While many unrecovered heavy weapons are believed to have been smuggled out through border routes, small arms pose a greater risk due to their portability and ease of concealment—raising fears of their potential use in election-related violence, he said. Election Pressure and Arms Challenge Historically, Bangladesh’s pre-election period is marked by heightened political tension and a greater risk of illegal arms use. Past elections have seen links between this period and incidents such as cocktail explosions, arson attacks and targeted violence. Consequently, arms recovery drives are treated as a top priority ahead of the polls. Read more: Operation Devil Hunt Phase-2 to begin ahead of national election According to multiple law enforcement sources, coordinated nationwide operations involving police, RAB and specialised intelligence units are launched before every election with the aim of cutting off the supply of weapons before violence erupts. AIG (Media) at Police Headquarters, AHM Shahadat Hossain, told UNB that arms recovery operations are currently ongoing across the country, with weapons being seized almost daily. Checkposts have been strengthened and patrols intensified, he said, adding that operations would be further scaled up once the election schedule is announced. He also noted that upcoming drives would be more intelligence-based, as agencies have already identified violence-prone areas and enhanced surveillance ahead of the polls. Reward Announced, But Limited Gains Several months ago, Home Affairs Adviser Lieutenant General (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury and Police Headquarters jointly announced monetary rewards for the recovery of looted weapons still missing since the August 5 unrest. While the initiative was initially welcomed, officials now concede that the results have fallen short of expectations. Read more: Firearms, ammo seized at Airport Railway Station A responsible source at Police Headquarters told UNB that the reward announcement did not lead to any major breakthroughs, noting that almost all recovered looted weapons had been seized before the incentive was introduced. Analysts suggest the assumption that illegal arms holders would voluntarily surrender weapons in exchange for rewards did not hold true in practice. Many of the firearms are believed to remain in the hands of organised criminal groups or to be under political protection. Another senior police official said more than 80 per cent of the unrecovered looted weapons are small arms, making their recovery before the election particularly challenging. Intelligence Over Sweeping Raids In response, Police Headquarters has revised its strategy, moving away from sudden blanket raids and mass arrests towards intelligence-based, targeted operations. “A sweeping operation may produce short-term results, but intelligence-driven actions allow us to strike at the core holders and networks,” a senior police officer told UNB. Read more: Ex-JCD leader among 7 arrested with arms in Gazipur raid As part of this approach, the Detective Branch (DB), Special Branch (SB) and other units have intensified field-level intelligence gathering. Known criminals, arms dealers and their associates are now under closer surveillance. How Effective Is This Model? Security analyst Brigadier General (retd) Md Abdul Hamid believes intelligence-based operations are more effective in the long run, though their impact takes time to materialise. The key challenge, he said, is the limited time available before the election. Abdul Hamid, a former Defence Adviser at the Bangladesh Mission in New Delhi, added that the success of arms recovery efforts should not be judged solely by the number of weapons seized. “It also depends on how much election-time violence can be prevented. If major violence is avoided, the drive can be considered partially successful,” he said. Illegal arms recovery ahead of elections remains crucial. Yet despite reward announcements, strategic shifts and heightened intelligence activity, tangible results on the ground remain limited. Experts argue that sustained success will require coordinated action against weapon sources, trafficking networks and political protection. Ultimately, the real test of these operations will come during the election days themselves—when it will become clear whether the intensified arms recovery drive has been enough to ensure a peaceful vote. Read more: 10 foreign firearms, 30kg gunpowder seized in 24 hours

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has identified the motorbike used in the gun attack on Inquilab Moncho spokesperson and Dhaka-8 election candidate Osman Hadi and detained its registered owner from the Mohammadpur area of the capital. Tipped off, a special team of RAB-2 conducted a drive in Mohammadpur area in the early hours of Sunday (December 14, 2025) and detained Abdul Hannan, said RAB Headquarters’ Deputy Director (Media) Major Mohammad Lutful Hadi. Read more: NBR freezes bank accounts of Hadi’s suspected attacker Masud and his firm After detention, motorbike owner Abdul Hannan was handed over to Paltan Police Station for further legal proceedings, he said. Major Lutful Hadi said interrogation is underway to identify those directly involved in the attack and to uncover the motive. Osman Hadi was shot by assailants in the capital's Bijoynagar area on Friday noon, triggering widespread concern and condemnation. Read more: NBR freezes bank accounts of Hadi’s suspected attacker Masud and his firm Law enforcement agencies including police and RAB have been conducting drives to identify and arrest those involved in the attack.