DHAKA, Aug 2, 2025 (BSS) - Police on Thursday arrested eight suspects for committing robberies in the guise of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) from the capital's Shahbagh area. 
  
The arrested were identified as Mintu Halder, 42, Md. Nazmul Hasan, 32, Nirmal Halder, 37, Salauddin, 35, Md. Delwar Hossain Sikder, 55, Syed Shamim Hossain, 45, Pavitra Pal, 38 and Balaram Chandra Pal, 37.
 
A team of Shahbagh Police Station arrested the suspected criminals in a raid at Shahbagh area on Thursday morning following an allegation of committing robberies impersonating RAB personnel from a gold trader Ranjan Chandra Singha, near Bangladesh Secretariat Metro Rail Station here on July 28 last. 
 
Four RAB uniforms, two RAB hanging badges, four RAB soldier badges, six RAB rank badges,, one RAB hanging badge, one RAB written cap, 11 mobile phones, two toy pistols, two handcuffs, two signal lights and one Hero brand scooties used in the robbery were seized from their possessions.  
 
Ramna Division Deputy Commissioner of Police Md Masud Alam disclosed the arrest and details of the operation at a press briefing held at the DMP Media Centre this afternoon.
    
According to Shahbagh police, the incident took place around 2:55pm on July 28, when Ranjan Chandra Singha was walking near the Bangladesh Secretariat Metro Rail Station. He was approached by three to four individuals wearing RAB uniforms, who attempted to force him into a white microbus.

In an attempt to flee, the victim threw his bag containing Tk 4 lakh in cash and 11 bhari of gold ornaments onto the road. The assailants then pushed him aside, grabbed the bag, and fled the scene, police added.

Following the incident, the victim filed a case with Shahbagh Police Station on July 31.

Police said the detained individuals are part of an organized gang involved in multiple robbery incidents. 

During preliminary interrogation, the suspects confessed to targeting gold traders, especially those visiting the capital's Tatibazar Swarnapatti area and committing robberies by posing as members of RAB and Detective Branch (DB).
 
The arrested have multiple robbery cases against them.