RAB arrests muggers, drug dealers in Uttara; slums keep producing more

Security forces arrest over 1,200 suspects in and around the capital's northern gateway this year

The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has admitted it cannot stay ahead of muggers and drug peddlers along the stretch from Dhaka's airport to the Gazipur road, even with regular arrest drives under way.

Slums dotting the route keep replenishing the ranks almost as quickly as they are cleared out, a RAB official says.

RAB-1 Commander Lt Col Md Neyamul Halim Chowdhury said this at a press briefing at the RAB media centre in Dhaka's Karwan Bazar on Tuesday, called mainly to announce the arrest of Sayedul Islam over the murder of his wife in Gazipur's Sreepur, when the conversation turned to Uttara's mugging situation.

On the Uttara front, the commander said police had run drives over the past two days, arresting 82 people on the first day and close to 100 on the second.

The elite force itself raided the Tongi Railway Station and the Mazar slum last week, netting around 17 arrests, and he said the campaign against muggers and drug traffickers would continue.

The officer put this year's tally at roughly 1,200 arrests across Uttara and its surrounding areas, covering muggers, extortionists and drug traffickers.

Asked about those sheltering or backing the muggers, he said RAB was gathering intelligence and would go after anyone found aiding them from behind the scenes.

He added that some names had already surfaced but were being withheld to protect the investigation.