RAB arrests 7,500 people in 10 months since July Uprising

RAB chief Shahidur Rahman appears at a briefing to highlight the force’s recent activities and arrests in high-profile cases

The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has reported arresting over 7,500 people and recovering more than 500 weapons in multiple cases over the past 10 months following the fall of the Awami League government after the July–August mass uprising.

At a briefing held at RAB Media Centre in Dhaka's Karwan Bazar on Saturday, the elite force’s Director General AKM Shahidur Rahman shared these figures and highlighted the force’s recent activities and arrests made in high-profile cases.

He said two people were nabbed in connection with the grisly murder of a scrap trader outside Old Dhaka's Mitford Hospital.

“RAB launched a shadow investigation immediately after the incident and managed to arrest two individuals. Additionally, a man named ‘Suman’ was arrested shortly after allegedly killing his wife and cutting her body into 11 pieces.”

Referring to the suspension of a flight from Dhaka to Kathmandu due to a bomb threat, the RAB chief said three people were arrested over the incident.

“To stop her married son from travelling with his ‘girlfriend’, the mother fabricated the threat,” he explained.

Shahidur stated the force has taken a strict stance on mob violence.

“We arrested three people over a suspect being snatched in Lalmonirhat, and six in Cumilla’s Muradnagar in connection with the assault and abuse of a woman.”

He presented arrest and recovery figures from Aug 5 last year to Jun 30 this year.

A total of 172 people were taken into custody in arms and ammunition cases during the period, alongside the recovery of more than 500 weapons and over 10,000 rounds of ammunition, he said.

The RAB chief also reported the arrest of 27 pirates and forest bandits.

In human trafficking cases, 73 suspects were apprehended and 42 victims were rescued.

In kidnapping cases, more than 500 individuals were arrested and around 750 victims were rescued.

“Five individuals were arrested for impersonating RAB personnel and conducting illegal activities while wearing RAB uniforms,” he said.

Nearly 500 muggers were arrested across Dhaka and elsewhere to combat crime. In addition, RAB arrested 2,200 people in murder and rape cases, 72 in extortion cases, 44 in fraud cases, 11 from teen gang groups, around 400 in robbery cases, and about 3,500 on drug-related charges.

In response to a question about the possible dissolution of RAB or changing its uniform, the director general said: “There’s no time to think about that. We’re focusing on ensuring public safety and maintaining law and order.”