A high-risk police raid in the capital’s Adabor precinct escalated into a violent confrontation overnight, leaving two suspects wounded by gunfire and four dangerous criminals in custody.
The operation unfolded in the early hours of Wednesday near the Nobodoy Housing kitchen market. Acting on credible intelligence received shortly after 2:00 am, an operational team from Adabor Police Station targeted a known hideout along the canal bank behind the local fairgrounds. Officers sought suspects wanted for an illegal land-grabbing attempt, widespread vandalism, and severe extortion. Upon arrival around 2:30 am, law enforcement personnel surrounded seven to eight individuals gathered in the dark.
As officers closed in to effect the arrests, the atmosphere turned hostile. Rather than submitting to law enforcement, several suspects brandished heavy steel cleavers and Japanese samurai swords, charging directly at the operational team. Confronted with a lethal threat, officers fired two rounds from a service shotgun in self-defence, neutralizing the assault and halting the gang’s momentum.
The gunfire struck two suspects in the legs, allowing police to secure the perimeter and take four men into custody: Rajib Howlader, 30; Sagar, alias Chhotto Bigar, 24; Shakib, 23; and Rashed, 24. Taking advantage of the nighttime confusion, three to four remaining members of the crew managed to escape into the surrounding alleys.
The two injured suspects, Rajib and Sagar, were immediately transported under armed escort to Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital for treatment. From the scene, officers recovered an array of dangerous heavy-bladed weapons, which have been catalogued as critical evidence for the prosecution.
Confirming the details, Jewel Rana, Additional Deputy Commissioner for the DMP Tejgaon Division, stated that the officers acted proportionately to safeguard their lives when met with armed resistance. Legal proceedings regarding the violent assault on police, unlawful possession of deadly weapons, and existing charges are currently being processed.
All four detainees carry extensive criminal records in the capital’s western zone. सागर is a serial offender facing at least eight active cases across the Adabor and Mohammadpur police stations. Rajib Howlader is identified as the prime suspect and number-one named accused in the high-profile Babu murder case in Mohammadpur. Shakib and Rashed each have five prior cases registered against them for violent crimes and extortion.
Organised land grabbing, enforced extortion, and violent intimidation remain persistent security challenges across several residential sectors in Dhaka, frequently prompting targeted police operations. Law enforcement officials confirmed that order has been fully restored in the Nobodoy Housing area, with heightened surveillance in place as efforts continue to trace the remaining fugitives.
