Dhaka: Rapid Action Battalion (RAB)-9 and 2 have arrested the drug lord and armed group terrorist Bunia Sohel of the capital's Geneva Camp and his 14 associates.

They were arrested in joint operations in various places in Sylhet, Habiganj and Brahmanbaria on Thursday (October 31) and Friday (November 01).

The arrested are - Sohel alias Bunia Sohel (30), son of Abdus Salam of the Geneva Camp of the Mohammadpur Police Station area of DMP, Amir Hasan Hira (36), son of Sabbir Hossain of the same camp, Anwar Hossain (27), son of Selim Hossain (27), son of the deceased Muslim, Jamal Hossain (29), wife of Sohel Rana, Mosha. Shahinur (32), daughter of the deceased Elias of the Geneva Camp, Nuri Begum (30) and son Mithun (24), son of the deceased Lokman, Sahil (38), son of Nadim (24), Md. Nasim's son Md. Azim (37), Solaiman's daughter Banu Begum (50) and the late Akbar Ali's son Sabik Hasan (20), Nasim's son Amin (28), Iqbal (38), son of the late Idris Mia, and Md. Asif Mia (37), son of Paul Kasai, of Geneva Camp.

The matter was confirmed by Rapid Action Battalion(RAB)-9 Assistant Police Superintendent and Media Officer Md. Mashihur Rahman Sohel.

On Friday night, RAB-9 said that Sohel alias Bunia Sohel, the drug lord of the Geneva Camp in the capital's Mohammadpur, has introduced gang culture in the camp for a long time. For some time now, there has been a conflict between the two groups, 'Chua Selim' and 'Bunia Sohel', over drugs and dominance. After the fall of the Awami League government on August 5, they looted a lot of weapons and ammunition from Mohammadpur and Adabor police stations and took them to the camp. They have been involved in several clashes recently. They have used these weapons, and are seen practicing with them. They have also been seen firing with looted weapons. Five people have been killed in the gunfights in two months. More than a hundred people have been injured. There are 18 cases against Bunia Sohel in various police stations in Dhaka for murder, murder, rape and other crimes.

Based on these allegations, RAB-9 and RAB-2 launched an operation. On Thursday (October 31), at 3:30 pm, a joint operation was conducted in various areas including Dariyapara of Kotwali Police Station in Sylhet city and drug lord Sohel alias Bunia Sohel, who was hiding in Sylhet, was arrested. During this time, they arrested 5 more associates.

On the same day, at around 4 pm, a team from RAB-9's Shaistaganj Camp conducted an operation in the Saiham Future Complex area of Madhabpur Police Station in Habiganj district and arrested 7 more associates of Bunia Sohel.

Later, on the basis of this incident, a team of RAB-9 conducted a raid in the Sadar area of Brahmanbaria at around 5:30 pm on Friday (November 1) and was able to arrest 3 more people.

In this regard, RAB-9 Assistant Superintendent of Police (Media Officer) Md. Mashihur Rahman Sohel said that the arrested accused have been handed over to RAB-2 for transfer to the concerned police station. In addition, RAB's intelligence activities and ongoing raids will continue to arrest other criminals. 

Barishal: The police have arrested the driver in the accident that killed Barishal University (BU) student Maisha Fouzia Mim.

The driver, Jamil Hossain (27), was arrested from Khaserhat village in Patuakhali around 11 pm on Friday (November 1), said Barishal Metropolitan Police Commissioner Md. Shafiqul Islam.

The arrested Jamil Hossain is the son of Haider Ali of Morichbunia village in Patuakhali district and is a bus driver for Narayanganj Travels Paribahan.

Earlier, the tragic accident took place in front of Barishal University around 9 pm on Wednesday. Maisha Fouzia Mim lost her life when she was hit by a bus of Narayanganj Travels. Mim was a first-year student of the Department of Statistics at Barishal University.

In protest against the incident, classmates vandalized the bus and set it on fire. The next day, Thursday, angry students blocked the Dhaka-Barishal highway and protested.

On Friday, students blocked the highway again and protested. When the leaders of the District Bus Owners Association failed to come to resolve the incident, the students blocked the highway again with 10-point demands. This caused a long traffic jam. However, after the students left around 10 pm, traffic flow returned to normal, said the OC of Bandar Police Station.

Dhaka: The army has arrested a man named Kamal on charges of extortion at the Muktijoddha Market in Mirpur-1 of the capital, based on complaints from traders.

An army official confirmed this information on Friday (November 1) night.

The army later handed over the arrested Kamal to Shah Ali Police Station.

At the time, the army said that the army had kept the accused Kamal under intelligence surveillance after August on the complaints of local traders. In addition, after investigating several videos, the army was able to identify Kamal on specific charges and arrest him.

In addition, the money for the extortion ring was given to Kabir, the main mastermind of the extortion ring. If a trader expressed his inability to pay the extortion, Kamal's people would physically harass him.

According to the locals and traders, Kabir used to dominate the market and harass and intimidate traders. When the army's investigation revealed Kabir's identity, it was found that he had been working with Jubo League leader and local MP Mainul Hossain Khan Nikhil for a long time. The victim traders said that this powerful gang had been suppressing the traders for a long time. No one dared to speak out for fear of their lives.

The army also said that they are working to catch the main boss of the gang, Kabir. Meanwhile, the joint forces also said that the news of the arrest of extortionist Kamal has brought relief to the local traders

Under the title ‘Bangladesh on the side of martyr families’, the ‘July Shaheed Smriti Foundation’ will provide financial assistance to 200 families of martyrs in the mass uprising of students and the public.

Financial assistance will start from Saturday (November 2).

The foundation’s CEO and Shaheed Mughda’s brother Mir Mahbubur Rahman Snigdha said in a Facebook post that the distribution of assistance money among the martyr family members will be inaugurated tomorrow at the South City Corporation Auditorium.

He also advised those who come to receive financial assistance to bring some documents to confirm the relationship of the martyred person in the movement.

In the Facebook post, Snigdha wrote that financial assistance will be provided only to those families who have been confirmed by contacting the number 16000. They will have to bring:

1. Photocopy of the martyr brother or sister’s NID card, 2. Death certificate, 3. Nominee (in whose name the account is) NID card, 4. The NID card of the martyr's father and mother must be present.

The post also mentions that if the wife of the martyr is a nominee, the father and mother of the martyr must be brought along.

Meanwhile, the foundation's general secretary, Sarjis Alam, said at a press briefing in front of the foundation office on Friday (November 1) afternoon, '200 martyr families will be provided assistance every week. Assistance will be provided to 200 people a week in four phases from morning to afternoon. For now, this program will start from Dhaka. Assistance will be provided to the families of the martyrs in all eight divisions in phases.'

He also said, 'If there is no problem within the martyr's family, money will be given through joint investment. If there is any problem within the family, then it will be dealt with through those who have the legal wing. In terms of assistance, large funds will be given through checks and small ones through bKash. Initially, each martyr's family will receive Tk. 5 lakh and the injured will receive Tk.1 lakh.'

Sarjis also said that according to information received privately, there are 24,000 injured and more than 1,600 dead which is being verified repeatedly. The foundation will also carry out rehabilitation work for the injured.