Staff Correspondent , Narayanganj

In two separate operations conducted by RAB-11 in Narayanganj, a total of 101 kilograms of marijuana was seized along with a large cache of locally made weapons, and six members of a notorious robbery gang were arrested. The recovered weapons include five machetes, two Chinese axes, five knives, a switchgear knife, and a large cleaver.

The arrested individuals have been identified as Mofizul Islam alias Jamil Babu (28), Saiful Islam Sakib (25), Md. Manik (31), Saddam (32), Shahid (37), and Monir Hossain (57) — all residents of Sonargaon. During the raids, a mini truck used for transporting the marijuana was also confiscated.

At a press conference held at the RAB-11 headquarters on Monday  afternoon, Battalion Commander Lieutenant Colonel HM Sajjad Hossain confirmed the details. He stated that the arrests followed an operation at around 5 a.m. in the Pachkanirkandi area of Sonargaon. Later, another raid on the Meghna-to-Bottola road led to the seizure of 101 kilograms of marijuana from the mini truck.

According to Lt. Col. Sajjad Hossain, the arrested robbers had been operating in the Meghna section of the Dhaka–Chattogram Highway, targeting vehicles during heavy traffic congestion. They often created artificial traffic jams by placing large tree trunks on the road, then stormed passenger buses at gunpoint, holding travelers hostage and looting their valuables. They were particularly focused on foreign-bound travelers, identified through online monitoring, as these individuals often carried large amounts of cash and valuables.

Criminal records show that Mofizul Islam alias Jamil Babu has four prior cases, including murder; Saiful Islam Sakib has four cases related to murder, sabotage, and drug offenses; Manik has three cases including murder; Saddam faces a staggering 18 cases, including robbery, murder, drug trafficking, possession of illegal weapons, and theft; Shahid is wanted for murder; and Monir Hossain has five cases related to theft and drugs.

RAB officials stated that operations are ongoing to track down other members of this criminal network. Intelligence activities have been intensified to identify and apprehend the remaining suspects. Legal proceedings against the arrested individuals are currently underway, and the seized drugs will be handed over to the respective police station for further action.