Police arrest 4 RAB officials for ‘kidnapping’
Earlier, a case was filed with Hatirjheel Police Station against six people, including the four RAB officials, on a charge of kidnapping and extortion
The Police have arrested four members of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) from the capital's Hatirjheel in a case filed over their alleged involvement in kidnapping and extortion.
Confirming the arrest, Harun-Ur-Rashid, deputy commissioner (Tejgaon Division) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, told The Business Standard that they were arrested on Friday afternoon in a case filed by the victim's sister.
The arrestees have been identified as Dulal Mridha of the Operation Wing at the RAB Headquarters, Md Shagor of the Investigation and Forensic Wing, Rokon Mia of the Intelligence Wing, and Rony.
RAB Media and Legal Wing Director Commander Khandaker Al Moin said, "The Police have arrested them from Hatirjheel area and handed over to the RAB. We will look into the matter. If there is evidence to substantiate the allegations, respective forces will take actions against them."
Earlier, victim's sister Raiana Hossain, a resident of the Mirbagh area of Hatirjheel, filed a case with Hatirjheel Police Station against some unidentified RAB officials for kidnapping her brother Tamjid Hossain and demanding ransom.
Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court in Dhaka recorded her statement on Friday afternoon, according to which several members of the elite force kidnapped Tamjid after he had left home for Uttara around 9am on Friday.
At 12pm, identifying himself as a senior RAB official, a man phoned Raiana and informed her that Tamjid was in RAB custody.
"Your elder brother is now in RAB custody. Please do not contact any police station or detective otherwise your brother will be killed," the man told her.
Later, he phoned her again around at 1:30pm and demanded Tk2 crore for setting Tamjid free.
"Senior officials are now interrogating your brother at a RAB office. He will be sued in arms and narcotics cases. Even, he might be killed in the crossfire. If you want to save your brother, arrange Tk2 crore," he said over the phone.
When Raiana asked him about his brother's whereabouts, he refused to disclose the location of the RAB office where he was kept.
The case statement also claimed that RAB officials tortured Tamjid and made Raiana hear him screaming.
In further development, two to three individuals called Raiana from the same number and settled the ransom amount at Tk12 lakh, as she expressed her inability in arranging such a big amount.
Later, they asked Raiana to go to Jamuna Future Park with the ransom and warned her not to inform the police.
Lastly, she talked to her brother at 3:30pm when he was crying and requesting her to arrange the ransom and make him free.