MUNSHIGANJ: During a raid conducted by the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB)-11, in the Sreenagar area of Munshiganj District, members of the Babu Group Kishore Gang allegedly opened fire on the RAB team, injuring two of the officers. When the RAB officers returned fire, one member of the Babu Group Kishore Gang was shot and killed, and two others were injured. The deceased was identified as Aiman Islam, 22, a resident of Munshiganj Sadar upazila. At the same time, the RAB officers detained six members of the Kishore Gang. The arrested accused, including the two injured, were identified as Imran (18), Kalo Rakib (20), Boma Liton (18), Chakku Babul (21), Rony (19) and Tokai Sabbir (21).

The incident took place at 9 p.m. on Wednesday, June 14, on Bhagyakul Road of Sreenagar upazila of Munshiganj District. This was the fourth raid this week carried out by officers of RAB-11 against the Babu Group Kishore Gang. RAB-11 Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel Tanvir Mahmud Pasha confirmed the authenticity of this information. 

Lt. Colonel Pasha further said that Touhidul Islam Babu (20), the brother of the deceased Aiman Islam, and the alleged kingpin of the Babu Group Kishore Gang, along with five other Kishore Gang members, were earlier arrested during a separate raid on Sunday, June 11, in Munshiganj Sadar. 

Two other raids were conducted by RAB-11 officers on Monday, June 12, in Gazaria upazila and Tuesday, June 13, in Louhajang upazila. A total of 23 members of the Babu Group Kishore Gang, including Touhidul Islam Babu, have been arrested over the course of the four raids, Lt. Colonel Pasha said. These raids were carried out on the basis of a complaint filed by Siam Halder, a resident of Panchgaon union of Tongibari upazila in Munshiganj.

Lt. Colonel Pasha also stated that during their investigation and the interrogation of the arrested accused, RAB found information suggesting that several corrupt police officers from multiple police stations had been assisting the Babu Group Kishore Gang by protecting its members, helping them avoid arrest, and allowing their drug-peddling and extortion activities to continue. He said that four police officers from Tongibari Police Station were already suspended in this regard.

Multiple local residents alleged that the Babu Group Kishore Gang had long been involved in drug peddling and the yaba trade, and that its members targeted school-going youths and unemployed young men to take part in their criminal gang. According to residents, Touhidul Islam Babu and the Babu Group Kishore Gang pressured vulnerable teenagers to sell yaba, collect money, and take part in street violence, intimidation, and extortion. They further alleged that the gang had created an atmosphere of fear across Munshiganj, and that many families could not speak against them due to fear of retaliation against their children and family members.