Five members of Bangladesh’s Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) were injured after allegedly coming under attack during an anti-narcotics operation in Lalpur upazila of Natore district on Tuesday night.

The incident took place at around 9:00 pm near Nabinagar Government Primary School, according to local police and healthcare officials. Law enforcement authorities said the RAB team had travelled to the area in plain clothes as part of a preliminary intelligence-gathering exercise linked to a wider anti-drug operation.

Police later detained a suspect identified as Sohag Mahmud, 30, son of Fazlur Rahman, in connection with the incident. He is currently being questioned as part of the investigation.

The injured RAB personnel were named as Ashikur Rahman, Minhajul Islam, Al Amin, Riazul Karim and Shahin. All were taken to Lalpur উপজেলা Health Complex after local police intervened and brought the situation under control.

According to local sources, a group of young men had reportedly gathered near the school premises and were allegedly involved in drug-related activity. When RAB personnel approached the location, several individuals present at the scene allegedly attacked the officers.

A local union council member, Afzal Hossain Dilu, confirmed that the assault had taken place and said police later rescued the injured officers from the scene.

Medical Officer Shammi Akter of Lalpur উপজেলা Health Complex stated that four of the injured officers were treated for physical assault-related injuries. Another officer, identified as Shahin, was admitted with abdominal pain and remained under observation.

Officer-in-Charge Shafiqul Islam of Lalpur Police Station said six RAB members had gone to the area in civilian clothing to collect information as part of preparations for a narcotics operation.

He said that although the officers’ identities were eventually established, several individuals still behaved aggressively towards them, leading to the confrontation.

Police responded promptly after receiving information about the incident and managed to stabilise the situation. Authorities said legal action is now underway.

Incident Summary

Anti-narcotics drives frequently involve intelligence-led field visits by law enforcement agencies, particularly in areas suspected of recurring drug activity. However, operations conducted in plain clothes can sometimes lead to confusion or confrontation, especially in crowded or poorly monitored local settings.

Authorities have not yet disclosed whether additional suspects have been identified. Police said further action would depend on the outcome of ongoing questioning and evidence collection