Shawdesh Desk:

The Rapid Action Battalion captured Bunia Sohel, reportedly the leading drug dealer and armed gang leader responsible for a surge in violent crime within the Mohammadpur Geneva camp in Dhaka, and 11 of his associates during a raid in Sylhet on Thursday.

Acting on intelligence, a joint team from RAB-2 and RAB-9 launched coordinated operations across Sylhet’s Kotwali area, leading to the arrests, said Shihab Karim, senior assistant superintendent of police (media), on Friday.

The arrested include Amir Hossain Hira, 30, Jamal Hossain, 29, Shahinur Begum, 32, Anwar Hossain, 27, Md Mithun, 24, Sahil, 38, Nayem, 24, Md Azim, 37, Nur Begum, 30, Bhanu Begum, 31, and Saqib Hasan, 20.

Operating from the densely populated Geneva camp area in Mohammadpur, Sohel’s group allegedly splintered into factions to control various criminal activities across Dhaka, engaging in murder, market extortion, robbery, kidnapping, and drug trafficking.

Their influence extended beyond Mohammadpur, where they reportedly commanded several teen gangs to enforce gang orders and conduct operations in neighbouring areas.

Bunia Sohel has been implicated in 18 criminal cases, ranging from murder and illegal arms possession to drug-related offenses, across multiple police stations in Dhaka.

Legal proceedings were underway for Sohel and his associates, police official Shihab confirmed.